Basics Are Undermining Our Performance

I arrive early before going on stage to present a talk on High Performance at a National Conference for the number one brand (in their category). This is a room full of high achievers. The constant talk over coffee amongst the troops has been about how they will continue to maintain market share. In such situations I like to chit chat with the attendees before my slot and ask about their day, their year so far, and what is generally happening in their world.

How keeping people accountable is different from breeding an accountability culture

I feel strongly that leaders are required to balance two key responsibilities: Performance and Care. It is a precarious balance to find and maintain as one can outweigh the other, or they can feel like adversaries resulting in confusion, mixed messaging, and possible micro-management. None of these set a good base for accountability and harmonious working relationships.

Standing Still Creates Nothing But More Friction

For years, I have been asking under performing front line staff "what is your definition of fun?".

I often get blank looks. It is a starting point to discuss how checking social media all day is not fun. Procrastination, politics, gossip, and generally 'having a laugh' at the expense of 'getting shit done' may all provide short term highs, but there is an underlying edginess that comes with it.

The Costs Are Multiple And Painful When Operating Transactionally

Like many, I have been buying up all sorts of tech toys recently. The home office has gone through some upgrades and the ques outside of the computer store I visited a few days ago, show I am not the only one.

Trying To Keep The Peace Is The Quickest Way To Misery

I have no idea how I got to this point. All I was trying to do was be polite. Do the right thing by everyone. And have a positive supportive environment for everyone to work in. But, instead, it seems like everyone is stabbing everyone else in the back and everyone thinks it's my fault.

Good work done inconsistently masks weak and unstable performance

You know that feeling when things are just happening for you. Things are coming easy. And you feel light as a feather. That thing I've mentioned before about ‘being in the zone’. Its one of the best feelings on the planet. I get this sometime when I’m playing golf. Occasionally, the club hits the ball sweetly. It sounds amazing. It feels brilliant! And the flight of the ball is straight and gentle as it penetrates the air with piercing speed. It is also controlled (the best a hack golfer like myself can hope for), but does not happen often.

The Game We Are Really Playing

If you were a professional sporting coach and the volume of training you were putting your athletes through had been maximised, what would you do?

What I learnt from my Dean Waugh crisis

I’m playing a One-Day cricket match on a hot day at Campbelltown Oval for my grade club East Torrens in South Australia. I’m bowling first change in batting-friendly conditions. The batsman is the third Waugh brother - Dean. Apparently, the best batsman of all the brothers (for the sake of the story let’s just say he is 😉).

A time to go big, not small

Disruption is not fun. It really isn’t. It’s like being Harrison Ford in The Fugitive. One day you’re an award-winning Doctor, next you are running for your life. Looking over your shoulder constantly not knowing if you’ll survive another day.

Focused on contribution without fuss

I had the privilege of going to the Women's T20 World Cup Final this week. What a cracker of a night! It was a brilliant showcase of community, sport, and inclusiveness. When it came to the cricket, the Aussies put in an almost faultless performance to swipe the Indian team aside to win the championship.

Artifacts connect us to our work and boost performance

The Maori warriors would use stealth to consolidate their forces and approach their enemy. At night time they would scout and travel the terrain. To guide their forces they would use the leaves of the native Silver Fern. When this leaf is turned upside down the underside of the leaf would reflect the moonlight with its silver-like reflective surface. They would lay the ferns out like bread crumbs for other warriors to follow - the fern represented 'the way forward'. Then when they returned home the last warrior would turn the leaves over so they could not be followed.

Promoting safety when it matters means mastery

A lot of our work is repetitive. And, when we become familiar with the scenarios and skills required on a cyclical basis, we may say that we achieved mastery. Malcolm Gladwell says we need to spend 10 000 hours practicing a skill or specialty to create a form of mastery.

Finding the zone of Productivity

In my study of Rhythm, and how to achieve it from a leadership or team perspective, I have found the concept of flow to be an important cornerstone of this.

The confusion none of us enjoy

Last week I had the pleasure of spending the day with a group of leaders in Adelaide. These people are experts in their field and super clever. Over lunch, it was wonderful to hear about their experiences from all over the world. I found it fascinating and enjoyable to work through leadership discussions and challenges with them throughout the day.

When technical skills take over

This week, the original Wiggles put on a concert to raise money for fire effected communities in Australia. I was a bit old for The Wiggles so my appreciation for them is a little meager, but they are one of the most successful entertainment exports this country has ever had.

Applying the Rhythm Principals to a new regime

On the 30th of December 2019, I attended my first yoga class. I know it reeks of New Year’s Resolution, but the timing, in this case, was inconsequential. My mentor had recommended this for me to undertake for my physical well being as well as my professional practice.

Finding your 80% Return

Pareto’s Principle tells us that the majority of our results come from a minority of our efforts (or resources). As a Corporate Sales Manager, I always had to subscribe by this as there simply is never the time or resource to attend to everything perfectly. Even more so now in my own Practice.

Avoid a stagnant start to 2020

Happy New Year y'all! Its the beginning of a new year where everyone is sprucing new beginnings and new starts. For some of us that have been around the sun a few times, we can find ourselves being cynical of such messages. For good reason too! It will only be a matter of weeks (or days in some cases) before the endorphins of 'new beginnings' wears off and is replaced by 'business as usual'.

A cornerstone strategy to progress

Every month Jana and I get ourselves along to the South Kingsville Slow Food Melbourne Farmers Market. It is a typical producer’s market with some beautiful local food of many kinds. It has become a ritual for us and we have now started to bring friends along because it is so good!

Keeping focused and engaged on the job at hand

Jack Nicklaus, the most successful professional golfer of all time once said, “golf is a game of misses.” He refers to the fact that it is impossible to hit a golf ball exactly where you want it to go, and that the key is to play a shot so that your miss is a good one. After going to see the next best player of all time, Tiger Woods, up close in person, I feel that golf is not only a game of misses but also a game of distraction.