Well, I need to mention the World Cup at some point so, after a few interesting results, I thought I’d raise the question of talent and performance. Why is it that a group of talented people can do amazing things in one game and then fail to ‘turn up’ in another?
Is it the amazing tactics of the oppositions manager or the different team being played? Is there a degree of fatigue and possibly small niggles that players are experiencing or even the heat that’s having an impact? You’d like to think that is not a motivational issue, after all, they are playing for their Country in the World Cup, how much better can it get?
Having played loads of football, in all sorts of different competitions and leagues I know motivation does have an impact and so do all the other things. They are all credible reasons for the same group of people, to not, consistently perform at their best. There are so many things that need to align, it’s almost impossible to be at 100% every time, as an individual and even harder as a team.
The same goes for the business world and people working together in companies, departments or business units, but it can be less obvious to spot. It’s easier to hide in a big organisation, not to be noticed and not give 100%. You could get away with that for years and I’ve heard some stories where a whole career has been 60% effort, at best!
There are also many factors that could affect performance at work and the reasons for under performance can be a mixture of many internal and external factors. The skill, as an individual, is to recognise where you are with your career and how you turn up every day. I know, for me, I try to give 100% every day I deliver training and, I hope, that people who have been on my programmes would agree. Having said that, are there times when I am less motivated or don’t do a great job?
Yes, yes, yes. I have slower days, bad days and even terrible days but, hopefully, not when I am delivering training for clients (That would be a short contract). I get up sometimes and don’t want to get going, do the email replies or even open the laptop and I can, sometimes, hide and not do a lot, but there are times ‘stuff’ needs doing and I have to just get on with it. ‘Limping’ at about 55% but I get it done.
Top tips to ‘snap out of it’:-
- Prioritise and organise your day, take time with a coffee and plan the day ahead
- Start with an easy win (Make your bed mentality) but book a time to get on with the important things
- Talk to someone who inspires you or watch a TED talk
- Do a gym session, go for a walk, do some breathing techniques or do something that energises you
- Eat well, hydrate well and tick off your to do list (Feels great)
- Delegate some tasks
- Ask for support
- Set targets, small steps and build momentum over the day
I know, for me, once I have achieved a couple of simple things I have more energy to tackle bigger, more intensive tasks.
Sometimes, when I feel tired, have got a small injury, the opposition look mean or I just can’t be bothered, I have a day off. I give myself space to regenerate, re-energise and recover. I watch a Netflix film, read my book or just go to the beach for a walk.
In business, as in sport, the recovery is as important as the training. Recognise when you need time out, an ice bath, warm bath, massage, to do yoga or just sit and listen to music. You can’t run at 100%, every day, otherwise you will burn out.
Work hard, play hard and rest easy!