The Ladder to Achieve High Performance

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Top performer? The best in your field? 

Some people dedicate their lives to finding the answer. Brendan Bouchard has provided that answer.

I am currently reading his book "High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way" and have come across so many nuggets that I just had to share his concept on performance. For visual purposes, I tend to see the concept as a ladder of levels of performance, with high performers being at the top (duh). Bouchard mentions that he has never met a high performer who wasn't consistently wondering whether they were giving their best. The question he coined, and often shares with his executive clients is: "who needs me on my A game the most right now?" 

Being on your A game means you are giving your best effort with full focus on a single task. But in order to strive to be on your A game, it requires that you set up internal and external demands in your environment. A simpler way to do this is to reverse engineer the performance ladder, assume the identity of a high performer and set up situations that require full immersion. 

But before we get to the identity of the high performer, Bouchard outlines this concept of a ladder of performance. This framework can really apply to any endeavor you undertake in your life and its my hope that it will clearly outline what it takes to climb the ladder to the top and to achieve high performance. 

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|On the bottom, we have Dabblers. They have a passing interest in the game of life. They |look at many things and try many things, but they never really jump into anything with full |engagement or commitment.

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|Novices have interest, and their intent is to develop expertise in an area. Their problem is |they don't deal well with discouragement. Novices tend to stop at obstacles because they |don't have enough identity in the grind.

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|Amateurs don't have interest, they have passion. They jump in deep, and engage with the |subject and strive to get better. Problem here is that they tend to flat-line unless they get fast |and positive feedback and recognition. In other words, a lot of external validation needs to |be exercised.

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|Players have passion but also greater commitment and skill. With focus, they train to |master each area of the game. They excel, as long as they are in the spotlight and are getting |compensated. If the game changes or rules change, they become bitter because its tough for |them to adapt. Players need rules and routines. They don't like disruption or negative |feedback, and need a high degree of fairness if they are going to decide to participate. If |someone on the team gets paid more than they do, they tend to freak out and quit. They are |committed to becoming a success in their position but rarely achieve holistic levels of |success in other areas of life. To Players, this is a game, and they play the game to win, but |not much beyond that.

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.... and finally High Performers

|"High performers are Players with greater all around necessity, skill, and team spirit. They |play at a high level no matter what the recognition or rewards because the game is |intrinsically rewarding and also part of how they view their service to the world. Their |identity is tied to the game but also to the team and those they serve. They don't want to |master just one area of the game, they want to be known for the game itself. And unlike |players, they don't mind sharing the spotlight. They have such a high degree of personal |excellence and duty to the team, they become the go to person in every game. They stand |out because not only do they deliver exceptional individual performance but also make |every person better through their influence." 

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If you want to be on your A game, you can't be a dabbler, novice, amateur or player. You must consciously choose and will yourself into being a high performer. You have to describe that identity for yourself, and step into it every single day. 

Now let me ask you, what is your high performance identity?

P.S. High performers tend to be associated with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of 'flow'. Next week I'll cover the top 10 elements of what being in a 'flow-state' is like!