Motivating others is a challenge that every leader faces. However, leaders often approach the issue from an inaccurate perspective. They ask, “How can I motivate my team?” What they should be asking is, “How can I create a motivating climate around my team?” The difference is subtle, but the second question is profoundly more accurate. It allows solutions which are actually in a leader’s control. Fundamentally, we can’t motivate others.
If your tasks and projects seem to run right up to the final deadline, you aren’t alone. Parkinson’s Law states that your work expands to fill the time allotted for it. “How long will that report take?” your boss asks. “How long do I have?” you might respond. Bingo. Parkinson’s Law is a nemesis of productivity.
Human performance fascinates us all. What was Roger Bannister thinking when he trained to break the 4 minute mile? Certainly, he was focused on the possibilities. Truly, the magic is found in what an athlete is thinking. Thoughts drive performance.
Our brains filter information 24/7. Some information makes it to our consciousness, some doesn’t. Some information we believe. Other we dismiss. A hidden process in our brains causes us to make assumptions, judgements, and decisions without having all the information. It is called the confirmation bias.
Casting vision is an essential skill for any leader. Whether you lead a household, a college football team, or a Fortune 500 corporation you won’t succeed without vision. Why is a vision so important? According to Warren Bennis, professor at USC’s Marshall School of Business, “In order to take the organization to the highest possible level, leaders must engage their people with a compelling and tangible vision.”
Coaches want their athletes to play their best in the biggest moments in sports. Players want to come through for their teammates when it matters most. Why do top performers seem to play their best on the biggest stage? One answer can be found in what athletes believe.
In our efforts to increase productivity, we find the strangest places to get work done. A friend posted on Facebook yesterday that he was working from the back of his SUV in the parking lot of a big box store while others did the shopping. I’ve written a blog post while zipping across Scotland by rail. Another friend of mine works in an open office space where nothing separates her desk from her coworkers’. Yet, every environment isn’t suited for productivity.
Confidence, a core tenet of mental toughness, has long been heralded as essential for an athlete’s optimal performance. Research confirms what many coaches already know, confident athletes dream bigger, work harder, think more effectively, and cope better with the stresses of competition.
I once heard that the hardest person to lead is yourself. I’d never seen leadership in that way. However, since that day, I have proven the concept to be true. I am my toughest leadership challenge. Others have said you must first lead yourself before you can lead others. So, are you leading yourself well? Where do you start?
High performers are often praised for their mental toughness, attitude, sound decision making, and ability to produce results. How did they get that way? How did they develop a championship mindset? One defining characteristic that separates the good from great is an individual’s ability to master his or her thinking. Specifically, high performers think on purpose. Our thinking drives our performances. If we can master our thinking, we’ll be well on our way to cultivating excellence.
