High Performance

1. Take responsibility for your actions and reactions

"I knew it wasn't my fault but how I reacted was my responsibility." - Billy Monger

Own your response. High performers understand that while they can't control everything that happens to them, they can control their reactions. This mindset shift from blaming external factors to taking ownership of one's response is crucial for personal growth and success.

Focus on what you can control. When faced with challenges, high performers concentrate on the elements within their influence rather than lamenting circumstances beyond their control. This approach empowers them to take constructive action and find solutions.

Embrace the responsibility equation: L + R = O (Life + Response = Outcome). By focusing on the 'R' in this equation, you can significantly impact your outcomes, regardless of the life circumstances you face.

2. Cultivate internal motivation for sustained success

"Internal motivation brings a self-confidence and self-happiness that no external award can give you." - Zack George

Understand the power of intrinsic motivation. High performers are driven by internal factors such as personal growth, mastery, and purpose, rather than external rewards like money or fame. This internal drive leads to more sustainable and fulfilling success.

Develop autonomy, competence, and relatedness. According to self-determination theory, these three psychological needs are crucial for fostering intrinsic motivation:

• Autonomy: Feeling in control of your actions and decisions
• Competence: Experiencing mastery and growth in your skills
• Relatedness: Feeling connected to others and part of something larger than yourself

By cultivating these elements in your life and work, you can boost your internal motivation and achieve higher levels of performance and satisfaction.

3. Manage your emotions to perform under pressure

"You need adrenaline, but too much and you are lost." - Kelly Holmes

Understand your brain's response. High performance under pressure starts with recognizing how your brain reacts to stress. The "red brain" (emotional, impulsive) and "blue brain" (rational, calm) compete for control in high-pressure situations.

Develop strategies to stay calm. Use these techniques to manage your emotions and maintain focus:

• Visualize success and prepare mentally for challenges
• Remind yourself of your abilities and past successes
• Gain perspective on the true stakes of the situation

Practice emotional control. Regularly exposing yourself to pressure situations and implementing these strategies can help you build emotional resilience over time, allowing you to perform at your best when it matters most.

4. Identify and leverage your unique strengths

"The main thing I took from school was understanding people and the way they think." - Steven Bartlett

Discover your multiple intelligences. Recognize that intelligence and talent come in many forms beyond traditional academic measures. Identify your unique strengths, whether they're in interpersonal skills, spatial reasoning, linguistic abilities, or other areas.

Look for clues of excellence. Pay attention to:

• Recognition: Times when others have pointed out your talents
• Reflection: Patterns in your past successes
• Rhythm: Activities that put you in a state of flow

Align your life with your strengths. Once you've identified your unique abilities, structure your career and personal pursuits to leverage these strengths. This alignment leads to greater satisfaction and higher performance.

5. Develop a flexible perspective to solve problems creatively

"When the world zigs, I tend to zag." - Ben Ainslie

Cultivate a growth mindset. Believe in your ability to learn and improve. Approach challenges with curiosity and view setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than permanent failures.

Think like a mad scientist. Break free from conventional thinking patterns:

• Challenge assumptions about how things "should" be done
• Look at problems from multiple angles
• Embrace unconventional solutions

Seek diverse perspectives. Collaborate with people who think differently from you. The combination of varied viewpoints often leads to more innovative and effective solutions.

6. Build consistent habits and non-negotiable behaviors

"If you are good, you'll get there. If you are consistent, you'll stay there." - Clive Woodward

Identify your trademark behaviors. Choose a few key habits that are crucial to your success and commit to them unwaveringly. These non-negotiables become the foundation of your high performance.

Create supportive environments. Use "action triggers" to build new habits into your daily routine. Link desired behaviors to specific cues in your environment to make them more automatic.

Never miss twice. Acknowledge that slip-ups happen, but don't let them derail you. If you miss a day of your habit, get back on track immediately. Consistency over time is more important than perfection.

7. Lead by setting clear direction and empowering others

"People have to be led. But everybody is responsible for creating the environment." - Gareth Southgate

Set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). Provide your team with a clear, ambitious vision that inspires and unites them. This overarching goal gives meaning to day-to-day efforts and drives long-term performance.

Focus on what matters. Eliminate unnecessary tasks and distractions. Concentrate your team's energy on the activities that truly contribute to your goals.

Identify and empower cultural architects. These are the influential team members who embody your desired culture and inspire others. By supporting and amplifying their positive influence, you can create a ripple effect of high performance throughout your organization.

8. Create a culture of commitment, connection, and safety

"Culture is created by people." - Gareth Southgate

Establish a sense of purpose. Help your team understand the "why" behind their work. When people feel connected to a meaningful purpose, they become more committed and engaged.

Foster emotional intelligence. Encourage open communication and empathy within your team. High-performing cultures are built on strong emotional connections between team members.

Prioritize psychological safety. Create an environment where team members feel safe to take risks, share ideas, and admit mistakes. This safety leads to greater innovation, learning, and overall performance.

• Encourage open dialogue and respectful disagreement
• Celebrate failures as learning opportunities
• Demonstrate vulnerability as a leader to set the tone

By focusing on these elements, you can create a culture that not only performs at a high level but also sustains that performance over time.

Last updated: September 21, 2024