The villagers could see the waters flooding into the harbour.  They had to run to higher ground.  They had to flee for their lives.

Where could they go?

There were two hills: one closer and lower, one farther and higher.  One requiring less effort to reach, the other requiring more effort to reach.  Many of the villagers raced to the hill that was more convenient believing they would be fine.  There is no way the waters could rise that high.  The rest of the villagers chose to go the extra distance to reach the inconvenient hill, the one that took more effort to reach.

From the two hills both groups could see the tsunami waters flood into the harbour.  Surely these waters could not overwhelm either of their places of refuge.  They would all be safe.  However, as they scanned the horizon from their elevated vantage points they began to realize there were other waters rushing in from the far end of the valley.

Before they could do anything about it they realized too late that the closer lower hill would no longer be a safe refuge.  To the horror of all onlookers, the tsunami flood waters converged and overwhelmed the lower hill killing all those who chose the more convenient escape route.

Sadly, half the population of Miyato Jima Island in Japan was lost in the great tsunami of 869 AD.  As a marker for future generations the surviving villagers erected a Tsunami Stone at the top of the lower, closer hill.  It stands to this day reminding villagers to flee to the farther, higher hill when a tsunami strikes.

Fast forward over 1,000 years to March 11, 2011 and the villagers of Miyato Jima were once again faced with the threat of a massive tsunami.  Knowing the legend of the great tsunami of 869, and seeing the tsunami stone set upon the crest of the closer, lower hill, all the villagers put in the extra effort to flee to the farther, higher hill.

It was their willingness to “go the extra mile” that saved all the villagers.  Once again the tsunami flood waters came in from the harbour, as well as up the valley.  And once again the closer, lower hill was overwhelmed by the converging waters.  But this time, thanks to the Tsunami Stone, all the villagers were saved.

Like the villagers of Miyato Jima, leaders must erect Tsunami Stones within their organizations.  Leadership Tsunami Stones set the standards to indicate anything lower than this is unacceptable.  Tsunami Stones set standards of service for future generations who know if they build at a level lower than this we will not survive as an organization.

Leadership Tsunami Stones set standards for conduct and character; they set out organizational values to which all must aspire.  Leadership Tsunami Stones are those markers for quality standards that create a culture of people who are unwilling to settle for a more convenient solution: a closer lower hill upon which they may very well die.  Leadership Tsunami Stones point the way to the farther, higher hill; to the less convenient, less traveled path necessary to survive and thrive.

Will you encourage your people to go the extra mile – to choose the farther, higher hill – in order to not be overwhelmed by the waters of change, by the waters of competition?  Will you create Leadership Tsunami Stones that point the way to higher ground?  Will you show the way to the extra mile?

As you know, there are never any traffic jams on the extra mile.

I heard a leader once say, “I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect awesome.”

Will you show your people the way to awesome, and erect the Leadership Tsunami Stones to point the way for them.  However, don’t just point the way to awesome for current employees, but to ensure your people are equipped to tell the stories necessary to pass on the legend of the Leadership Tsunami Stones to future generations.

Leadership Tsunami Stones must be erected, and their message become legend within your organization.  A good leader’s objective is the less convenient, farther, higher hill.  It’s only there that your organization will survive and thrive.