Performance Breakthrough
October 2009

Remembering What Matters
Volume 5,   Issue 10

Performance Breakthrough

The time is ripe for expansion.  Our economy has been constricted for awhile now, and we've been economizing, coping, and weathering the downturn.  Life is cyclical on both the macro and micro level.  And whether or not the overall economy is coming back sooner or later, the real question is, "Are you ready to come back?"

A client just reminded us of our own words from 10 years ago, "The economy has nothing to do with your personal success!"  He also shared with us that those words inspired him to double his revenue and lead his team to the top of his industry.

How do you do that?                        

Step 1 Possibility - you begin with an experience, not a thought or belief, of possibility.  It's a visceral feeling that comes into your being when your mind, body, and spirit are aligned with who you are, what you have to offer, and a zealot's intention to contribute to others.  You might need to remember the last time you fully felt that way.  It was likely when you'd just had a big success that validated who you are.  Your first assignment is to find and hold onto that internal experience of possibility before you get the external validation.  Call us if you need a little help.

Step 2 Creativity - you will need to innovatively make your business proposition or way of reaching new customers more relevant.  What makes you and your company's offer uniquely interesting now, in this new economy?  What do you need to do that you've never done before to add the exact value that your customers want to pay for?  Your second assignment is to reinvent who you are and what you are offering at the next level of targeted excellence.  Call us if you need a little help.

Step 3 Effectiveness - there is no time to waste.  Lack of alignment, avoiding the tough conversations, and internal squabbling among colleagues is the slow road to extinction.  You'll need to rise above the personal and organizational sloppiness that you used to be able to get away with.  You will need to listen better, tell the truth, have shorter meetings that make things happen, eliminate destructive thinking, inspire others to take the right actions, and more.  Your third assignment is to become a disciplined, rigorous, and centered practitioner of effectiveness.  Call us if you need a little help.

Step 4 Accountability - you will need to raise your game higher than ever before.  Excellence will always be rewarded if you voluntarily hold yourself accountable to what's really wanted and needed.  It's critical that you open up and ask for feedback.  Letting it in so that you can improve your performance is imperative.  Consider it a rare gift.  It is really the breakfast of champions.  Your fourth assignment is to make big promises and elicit the same from others, while gifting one another with feedback about what's missing until you achieve your breakthrough.  Call us if you need a little help.

You can create your own performance breakthrough any time you choose to.  In fact, your next breakthrough is already in your heart.  You just need to dig deep enough to find it. 

Remember, leading from the heart is not a namby-pamby, woo-woo approach to business.  It's being tough enough to do what's right, and compassionate enough to do it well.  Twenty years ago a CEO said this to his top thirty people in celebration of our first year's results, "Before we engaged LionHeart we were a good company.  Now we are a good company with the balls to address our real problems." 

It was a strong statement in a tough economy.  Strong times call for strong leadership.  Are you ready to address your real problems? 

If you know someone who would benefit from reading this article, please pass it along!