BEING THE BEST MEANS...

Typically, I reference how being the best can conflict with being excellent when the best is overly simplified as being better than others. In that context, you better be sure the “others” you are better than are high achievers with excellent results; otherwise, you risk being better without being good. Those who only measure themselves against others, dismissing any regard for excellence, are rarely high achievers. 

With that said, from this point forward, we will assume that when I or anyone within the organization says, "Let's be the best," it is understood that this also means, "Let's be excellent.” 

If you really want to be the best, you really must be open-minded and receptive to all input. The collective knowledge between you and the people who surround you dwarfs any amount of knowledge you can accumulate on your own. It is not even close. You have no choice if you genuinely want to be the best. You must be receptive to outside input. That does not mean you cannot have firm convictions, strong opinions, or be a hard charger. It does mean you must maintain a tiny window of open-mindedness to not miss out on an idea, suggestion, or recommendation that makes you better. If the idea, suggestion, or recommendation doesn’t make sense or work, don’t do it. But that is determined after you thoughtfully consider the input and not before. 

Being the best demands a degree of open-mindedness and thoughtful consideration of ideas, suggestions, or recommendations, especially from those with shared values who genuinely try to create win/win relationships.