No cost habits that will translate into stronger performance

More and more these days I am getting involved in conversations regarding the best way to recover, the most sensible way to manage on a reduced budget and how to maintain a level of flexibility without veering entirely away from the core strategy. Sound familiar?

These types of conversations are not at all surprising given the past 12 months, the current economic climate and the uncertain outlook that still seems to fluctuate daily for 2021. However I have had to call out a number of "unhealthy" responses that I feel are worth sharing. It is pretty common right now for a huge portion of these strategic conversations to focus on external forces - government responses, vaccine acceptance, vaccine success or the response of consumers globally once the dust settles. These topics although important are not usually productive because we end up stymied in no mans land with no actionable outcomes. Instead I would encourage everyone to look internally first, get introspective and take action now. This way you are ready or at least better prepared for whatever happens. Here are my three tips that cost nothing - however these three tips can yield a huge return.

Maintain the mental advantage – I try to listen to a TED talk every day as I go for a walk. The average length is around 20 minutes and they seem to all be chock full of either great thoughts or (and sometimes better) seeds that prompt personal reflection and in turn lead me to some interesting ideas. I try to be incredibly open in what I listen to, not worrying about whether I feel it will apply to my world or not. Interestingly some of the most obtuse topics have had the most meaningful application. That is one extremely easy and free way for us as professionals to keep the saw sharp. There are of course books, blogs and periodicals that can all help us accomplish the same thing. The point is that we need to do something as a leader, as a manager or as an employee to be your best. Much like staying physically fit, mental health will not simply happen through osmosis or wishful thinking. Establishing a routine and developing a daily habit of feeding your mind will have a definite impact on your success.

Become emotionally prepared – many years ago I was listening to a professional golfer discuss how he handled the stray shot that sometimes happen to even the best of golfers. This golfer happened to have a great reputation for recovery shots and sand saves. What he said was interesting, first he tried to slow himself down and walk slowly to the ball’s location. On the way there he tried to imagine the worst possible line of sight, the worst soil, the most horrible place to stand and so on. This way, by preparing for the absolute worst when he finally arrived at the ball, he was ready. Being ready for the worst meant that ok was now exceptionally good and his mental state turned positive. Similarly, on your way into work try to imagine the worst possible day is ahead of you, envision all the things that could go wrong and think about your response to these scenarios. By preparing yourself for imaginary situations and role playing your response you will be emotionally prepared for anything the day can throw at you.

Get better at being socially proactive – I would suggest that you devote the last ten minutes before your day starts in earnest to connect socially. Hit Linked In and twitter and make sure to complement, praise or comment on anything pertinent being shared by your fellow employees or business colleagues. Have a stack of thank you cards on your desk and get into the habit of sending a handwritten thank you card to everyone that is worthy of some recognition. Set up a coffee meeting or a virtual coffee meeting with someone in your network weekly. 

By making a practice, a habit of these three items which can all happen in under an hour each morning you will find that you feel better because you are in control. You will think clearer - even about uncertain matters - because you have given your mind the food it needs to provide solutions.

If you have any additional suggestions then please leave those in the comments.