In many different various roles throughout my life, I have been asked multiple times “What really is High Performance?” And while the words that I’ve used to explain it may have changed, from my perspective High Performance has always encompassed an element of individual or personal best.
And deep down, who wants to be the very best they can be? I know I do! And I’m sure you do too 🙂
But of course, if that were the only component of the definition then it would mean every single one of us is a high performer. So, what is truer is that we all have the potential to be a high performer and demonstrate High Performance, but it is a choice we make every day.
The definition from the High Performance Institute of High Performance is,
“succeeding beyond standard norms consistently over the long term”
Where ‘standard norms’ refers to an individuals’ baseline or what is usual or normal for that particular individual. And ‘succeeding beyond’ refers to that individual’s next level of success or potential or personal best. But what then comes into play is the daily or consistent decision that the individual makes to ensure they are performing at their next level of success, or potential or personal best daily over a longer period i.e. they are performing ‘consistently over the long term’. An individual’s performance at a specific point in time may be spectacular performance for that individual, but the High Performance difference is that this performance is repeated consistently over the long term.
[Sidebar: This definition can also be applied to teams, or groups including organisations and industries; where the standard norm would then refer to that team or group’s baseline or what is usual or normal for that group.]
Usually the next question I get asked is Why? Why should I care about High Performance? And for me this is the more important question.
When you choose to be a high performer each day then the result is you live a High Performance life. And living a High Performance life is when you really are the very best you can be. The High Performance Institute defines High Performance living as,
“the ongoing feeling of full engagement, joy and confidence that comes from consistently living from your best self”
And that’s what I want!
I want to feel fully engaged in my life, joyous and confident. I want to be “IN THE ZONE” (as some may refer to it) ALL THE TIME! I know you’ve had moments like that right? When you are so totally present, involved and carried away in the moment, you’re on top of your game, happy and not only feel like you could take on anything, but you do! It’s those moments that I want more of, don’t you?
But then the question is how? How do I replicate those moments?
It’s amazing how many of us experience these moments of High Performance living but really don’t know how to replicate them, or how to ensure we have more of those moments and make a life of them. A lot of us put it down to one-off, or those rare occasions of true happiness that either we don’t know how to have more of, or possibly believe we can’t expect to, or even don’t deserve to. So, we don’t try, and we don’t really live.
But I have some great news! The High Performance Institute have done the world’s largest research study into High Performance and have been able to distil High Performance into its components. And the great thing about that is, not only can the moments be replicated, but there are levers everyone has control of in their lives to ensure they can and do live a High Performance life.
The High Performance Institute has found that High Performance is,
“the result of heightened and sustained levels of clarity, energy, courage, productivity and influence“
And we will experience clarity, energy, courage, productivity and influence by mastering purpose, presence, physiology, psychology, productivity and persuasion in our own lives.
Hallelujah!!! So, what this means is being a high performer is not relegated to an elite set of individuals. In fact the research has found that there is no correlation to High Performance based on age, education, income, race, nationality, or gender! Instead, with the right focus, habits and support, anyone can dramatically increase their results and become a high performer in almost any field. [Source: Burchard, Brendon. High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way (p. 12). Hay House, Inc.]
So, what really is high performance? It’s the secret to living from your best self and any one of us can achieve it!
Do you want to have a High Performance life? Are you ready to make the change? Do you need some help taking your life to that next level?
Click here to organise a chat as I’d love to connect with you!
If you have any thoughts or input about this post please be sure to like it and leave your comments below and take the High Performance Quiz to find out more about living a High Performance life.
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