What I Learnt From Interviewing 100 Weapons?

Morena Whanau,

Last night I was thinking about some of the biggest things I've learnt from interviewing 100 of New Zealand's top business leaders, innovators, and change-makers as they were navigating through Covid in real time. So surely I should have some insights.

I then tried to think of tactics and tips that they were doing as if there was a golden nugget to fix anyones woes. I then realised that it wasn't so much the nitty-gritty of the actions that everyone was executing, but it was more the attitude of leadership which was setting the tone for the decisions which then came after.

Approaching big decisions with a negative mindset and trying to think of a new future with a cloudy headspace doesn't set a leader, business, employees or customers up for success. This became super clear that one of the biggest learnings was the consistency across all 100 people that I interviewed was their approach in the headspace to start with, not the tactics and tips they were doing as outputs.

This then weirdly took me back to the headspace thinking about my previous life as a professional snowboarder. Everyone would roll up to the same obstacle or jump in front of them and they knew they had the skill to take the leap, but it was the true innovators and pros who’s mindset went to a different place of what they thought they could do differently to the rest of the competition. How they could separate themselves from what others were doing to try things in a new way that haven't been seen or done before? It was the mental confidence and creativity first which set them up for the physical output success later.

So as the world continues to battle the health challenges as we aim for elimination of Covid-19 I can't help but think of the countless business decisions which Kiwis will be making in the next year which will help transform the economy and setup our next generations. Are they making these big calls with a clear or cloudy head? And are they leading with positivity of negativity? With offence or defence? With Confidence or Fear?

The BIGGEST thing I’ve learnt? The headspace leading into the decisions is more paramount to prioritise and address first, then tackle the decisions, potential opportunities and obstacles next.

The mind is a wonderful Weapon - when used correctly.

Jordan said his game was 80% mental. He was right.

Ready. Think. Go.

• Robett