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Theoretical Thinking
The Source of Performance - by Paul Crittenden
I believe that high performance emanates from much deeper in the individual than at the level of their skills, knowledge and experience. What people can do, is not very often an indicator or determinant of what they will do. I believe that the seeds of outstanding natural performance are planted in the rich soil of a person's character, and are then either nourished or throttled by their thinking.
Just as the beauty, growth and abundance of most gardens is dependent on careful and dedicated tending, so it is with human performance. If we let the weeds and runners of self doubt and ambivalence strangle the seeds we plant, we can look forward to a dissatisfying and mediocre display. And if we mistreat the first buds of new growth, or starve the very plant of nourishment we will be rewarded with a lacklustre harvest.
When I look around me, I see that most people's working norm is to produce good, but unremarkable performance. Only in exceptional circumstances do we usually find what people are really capable of, and I have rarely found someone who can sustain peak performance for more than a short period of time. Even Olympic runners don't run everywhere all the time, and Formula 1 drivers have little interest in knocking hundredths off their drive to the local supermarket!
That is not to say that people do not want to do great work. I believe they do. In fact, I believe it is a travesty to encourage anyone's highest attainment to be 'competence', even at its highest levels. I've never aspired to be competent at anything of interest to me - and I don't believe you have either. Competence is about control and consistency - it strangles brilliance as surely as runners strangle your most beautiful blooms!
To experience the brilliance in anyone, we first have to ensure they are aware of how brilliant they are. We then have to get them to somehow overcome their lifetime of conditioning that tells them not to admit it to themselves, and then get them to accept their responsibility to make a brilliant contribution beyond their self interest.
But most employees tell me tales of systemic or managerial oppression or incompetence, and then blame this for squashing the passion out of their role. They are insidiously succumbing to drip-drip-self-disempowerment, the positioning of themselves as victims of what goes on around them.
By inviting individuals to embody their true character and take personal responsibility for their own experiences, I believe they are empowered to take command of themselves and their lives, enrich their passion and confidence, and get back in touch with the sense of possibility and opportunity that has been squeezed out of them.
Whenever I take this approach I see greater levels of engagement, learning and achievement, and people optimising their own potential and contribution. It is as if people become fully alive again, and choose to play a fuller part.
Transformational Thinking will help you and your people to rise to new levels of self awareness, and to shed the self limitations and self deception that have constrained your potential. Our outstanding coaches and facilitators inspire and encourage you to step into your true character, and begin living and working from a place of greater authenticity and integrity. A robust, confident and trustworthy state upon which to build your resolve and your performance.
When we work with groups, teams or organisations, we expose and address the limiting cultural beliefs and expectations that hold you back, and infuse new life and a sense of greater possibility in any body of people who work together - from Board to back office.
I believe that many of your people will already know they are capable of higher performance and greater contribution - but are unconsciously choosing mediocrity and ambivalence. Others will want passionately to make a greater difference, but are locked in a world of self imposed limits and fear of failure. Even your highest performers will be routinely thinking themselves into delays and frustrations, unaware that a more liberating and fulfilling approach is available.
The pathway to liberating anybody's particular brand of magic, lies in them understanding and taking command of the way they think about themselves, and view the world. If we also enable them to harness their mind to think more productively and skilfully, we can expect a significant increase in their personal and interpersonal leadership, and their impact on business results.
Whilst the enabling factors of performance clearly include skills and knowledge, these are eclipsed by the awesome power of self belief, confidence, resilience, and tenacity. In the 'high performance' equation, I have found that these elements dominate by a significant factor, and they are a product of character, not personality.
I differentiate personality as the image we project which emanates from our character, but is filtered and flavoured by the life scripts and patterns of our conditioning. So often this is a veneer covering the essential drivers of the human spirit - the unique soul print of we hold at the core of our character.
I believe passionately that playing to our natural strengths and aligning to our essential self is the only way to ensure that we consistently optimise performance over the longer term.
If you believe this too, and have an appetite to bring this truth to life in your business or organisation, we should be working together to make great things happen.
Call me today on 0845 2601425 to discuss possibilities of working together.
Paul Crittenden
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