Further through Failure

Last weekend was a forging mechanism. This is what I like to call opportunities to step well outside the comfort zone: To fail, and to learn. More importantly, a forging mechanism is an opportunity to be inspired. Not just by others, but by our own resilience in adversity.

The Age Group Qualifiers test fitness, skill, and grit. All of these elements are somewhat transferable but the last one in particular, can never be too current! I failed at something in every challenge but I found out something at the same time. I found out that failure can be focal for the future flame. Gaps become goals and pain sharpens purpose.

Getting stuck into training and testing at the beginning of the year helps set the mood for momentum as the year unfolds. Preparation goes from optional to critical when there is a delivery deadline! This positive pressure is what forges growth.

As a project performance guide I am always interested in my own response to pressure as well as what I can learn from other guides in other environments.

The reinforced reminders were two-fold.

1. My purpose is to inspire myself and others to strive for more and prove that showing up is always possible. Striving on purpose is intrinsically rewarding and can be unifying for a team.
2. Having a guide and coach who is responsible for the preparation process and for performance pride is absolutely invaluable. Most have heard of fight, flight, freeze - a response to perceived threat or discomfort. Freeze is also referred to as attentive immobility. Basically we get in our own way and benefit from ritual or routine to help us cope with the fear of failure or the unknown. Having someone to take ownership of the conditions for excellence helps performers to perform to their potential. This is a principle of performance coaching - the provision of a performance focus which ensures readiness and reflection, especially when the execution team is distracted and/or doubtful.

Mandela said, "I either win or I learn". Both winning and learning are more likely with accountability support. I was reminded of this as a Masters Athlete and have been reassuring Project Leaders of this as operations pick up in the Energy Sector this Spring!

If you enjoyed this article, I would encourage you to check out my popular book on performance improvement;?Accelerating Automatic!

Tim Wigham?is Head of Performance at Exceed Energy. He is an Amazon#1 bestselling co-author of?Purposeful People?and a?TEDx Speaker?on the topic of Moodset and Team Performance.