Leader-as-Performer: Lead the Way to Maximum Success
In a recent post, I introduced you to The 5 Things Great Leaders Do Very Well, in which I described the five essential roles that leaders must fulfill to be successful: 1. Leader as person 2. Leader as performer 3. Leader as team builder 4. Leader as decision maker 5. Leader as change agent In the follow-up post, I explored Leader as Person in which I argue that who you are is how you lead. In this post, I will examine your role as Leader as Performer and how this focus ensures that you and your team have the necessary tools to maximize your performances and, as a result, your successes. Performance is so vital because it is the foundation for two higher-order goals of individual and organizational success in the business world: productivity and profitability. The only way to maximize these two is to maximize performance.
Read MoreThe Power of Self-talk (“You” is Better Than “I”)
An interesting article discussing research that demonstrates the benefits of self-talk and the difference between using second person (“You can do it”) and first person (“I can do it”). Hint: second person is better.
Read MoreSleep is Another Casualty of Technology
If you’re a parent a of teenager (or have a child that is going to be one!), this article should really disturb you. The bottom line is that when young people should be sleeping, many are staying up late spending the wee hours of the night on social media. It’s called ‘”vamping,” as in vampires. […]
Read MoreThe Best Way to Motivate People is…
A fascinating article describes research that is both counterintuitive and has potentially important implications for the worlds of business, sports, education, and beyond. The basic finding, not surprising, is that internal motivation (drive from your values, meaning, passions) produces the best outcomes. What is surprising was the finding that when internal motivation was combined with […]
Read MorePractice Makes Better, But Not Necessarily Much Better
A great article that further debunks the “10 years, 10,000 hours” theory of deliberate practice. Yes, practice makes you better, but, according to a recent study, not that much better.
Read MoreFor Athletic Success, You Pay Now or Pay Later
Just about every sport has an off-season during which a key focus should be on building your fitness that acts as the foundation for all of your other sports efforts. Because all aspects of sports preparation have become so sophisticated in the last decade or so, regardless of your sport, without the necessary strength, agility, and stamina, you have little chance of achieving your athletic goals no matter how good you are technically, tactically, or mentally. The problem is that, for most young athletes, conditioning isn't all that fun, in fact, it can be downright tiring, boring, and, yes, painful. Which means that you may not be entirely psyched to work out as much or as hard as you should. I heard this complaint twice recently from young athletes I’m working with. Both knew they should be in the gym regularly, but when it came time to head out the door, they just couldn't pull the trigger as often as they know they should. Plus, when they got to the gym, they just couldn't seem to push themselves as hard as they knew they should. If you feel this way, don’t feel too bad because even the most successful and committed athletes don’t always enjoy their time in the gym. Even for the world’s best athletes, conditioning isn't always fun and it is usually really painful. But each of them make a choice and you can too.
Read More