On June 23, 2013, high-wire expert Nik Wallenda tightrope walked across the Little River Gorge near the Grand Canyon – a quarter-mile walk on a 2-inch thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the river below. Talk about Intentionality.

Afterward, Wallenda said it was “mental toughness” that helped him conquer not only the narrow, harrowing walk but also the 48 mph winds.

Tightrope walking and displaying intentionality inside our organization share a lot of similar qualities.

• Seeing the challenge in detail.

• Keeping eyes directly on task.

• Standing firm and steady in our discipline.

• Cultivating the Gift of the Goose (cheering each other on!) along the trek.

“To me, Intentionality echoes the thought that we as a company and we as managers put in place plans to reach our goals but also match our philosophies and meet our vision. I think they have to go hand in hand,” Datamax Texas President David Rhodes said. “To display intentionality, you’ve got to walk the walk.”

Being an intentional organization? It’s requires mental toughness. However, just as is the case with Wallenda (aka King of the High Wire), the result of doing so can be fruitful, fulfilling, and, frankly, produce unprecedented results.

What Does an Intentional Organization Do?

1. It Considers Clay’s Formula.

When asked about Intentionality, VP of Sales Clay Mills recites his interpretation, those of which who have attended Texas Friday Sales Meetings will know well:

• Plan.

• Execute your plan.

• Reflect. Repeat.

“We’ve just gone through this whole process. We reflected on the year. We started our business plans based on that reflection; now, we’re starting to execute, and we will make adjustments moving forward,” Mills said. “I think that, to me, intentionality simply means you’re focused on executing these plans.”

2. It Knows We’re ALL in Customer Service.

“Every day, when we walk into the building, we have to realize that we are in customer service, either externally or internally. Our actions, how we handle ourselves, and what we do, affect both our employees and our customers,” Rhodes said. “We have to intentionally keep that in mind — what are we doing with all the good people we have in place to develop and maintain happy customers.”

3. It Walks the Culture Talk.

Rhodes points, of course, to the Datamax Little Blue Book.

“I think it’s being consistent and having the direction of our goals, but also with the values and beliefs printed in the Little Blue Book. Are we doing what we say we do in that Blue Book?” Rhodes said.

How Does an Intentional Organization Perform? (Consider our FBF Methodology).

1. It Performs with Focus.

“You don’t get ANYTHING done if you aren’t focused,” Rhodes said.

He goes on to say that it’s incumbent on management to communicate what the vision for their team or teams is so that the employee can then focus on that vision.

2. It Performs with Balance.

“Balance, to me, simply means that no one department is any more important than the other,” Rhodes said. “We have to be in sync with that, making sure that we invest and train and have a proper headcount in every department to make our company successful. Every single department, from sales, service, and support staff, must have the tools and resources it needs to accomplish our goals.”

3. It Performs with Fearlessness.

Nike Wallenda exhibited fearlessness, balancing 1,500 feet high on a 2-inch steel cable. How fearless are we every day with our tasks at hand?

“Employees must have the confidence that their manager is going to help them accomplish what they need to, so there’s no fear in tackling any situation,” Rhodes said. He points to a true team effort both by upper management and middle management to have that clear vision for the organization.

“I like KPIs to help you step toward that goal — and that is growing the business in a profitable way with happy customers that respect our values and what we bring to the table.”

Achieving that ultimate goal? It takes mental toughness. It takes focus, balance, and fearlessness.

And yes, it takes Intentionality.