Training Industry Magazine - September/October 2021 - 28

deferred. Be honest. You can't and
don't need to do everything.
SuPer-PerforMerS
* Meet with your leader or a trusted
mentor to discuss your streamlined
list. Decide together how to prioritize
your tasks and then create a stepby-step
plan for making progress on
those items.
* Decide which disciplines, processes
or procedures will help you to focus
on your priorities in the most effective
way. You may choose to use or modify
existing processes or create entirely
new ones depending on the situation.
BALANCE, RESILIENCE
AND SELF-CARE
Super-performers have an extraordinary
work ethic but don't put themselves at
risk of burnout because they understand
and respect their limits. Employees are
often encouraged to work themselves
to the breaking point, and while this
may result in short-term gains for
the business, the organization and
its employees will both experience
negative consequences from an overly
demanding culture in the longer term.
Super-performers apply their energy
in a focused and intentional way, give
everything they have to the demands of
the job when it's necessary and then they
step back to breathe and take care of
themselves. They build up their physical
and mental durability by cultivating an
optimistic outlook and use that strength
and positivity to face enormous tasks or
difficult situations with good humor and
a healthy response to intense pressure.
When super-performers encounter
adversity, meet resistance or make
mistakes, they take responsibility for
their contribution to whatever has gone
wrong, learn from the experience and
create a new way forward. Challenges
are viewed as puzzles to be solved, not
impassable barriers. Nothing will prevent
super-performers from reaching their
goals, they may just need to get creative
to achieve them - and sometimes that
means taking some time for themselves.
Allowing for personal time and space
helps super-performers refill their well of
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unDerStanD how tHey
fit anD wHy tHey
matter in terMs of
tHe Broader goalS of
tHe organization.
energy and return to work with renewed
vitality and drive. Encouraging self-care
and building resilience is good for the
individual and good for the business.
Physical
and
mental
health
are
essential components of a productive
workforce and a greater quality of life.
Here are three ideas to help employees
take better care of themselves on and
off the job:
* Create a list of things outside of work
that bring you joy. Schedule some
time in your calendar every week to
engage in those activities and be
committed to following through.
* Strengthen your ability to focus
on what is possible and what can
be done rather than what can't be
done. Being in tune with the positive
aspects of a situation will give you a
more confidence and allow you to find
opportunities for growth and change
in difficult situations.
Super-performance is about the kind of
person you want to be and the life you
want to live. No matter where employees
currently fall along the continuum, a shift
in mindset can boost their contribution
and value. Performance excellence has
the power to change your life, both
personally and professionally - and the
benefits of that are immeasurable.
Steven J. Stowell, Ph.D., is the founder
and president of CMOE, a leadershipdevelopment
and organizationeffectiveness
solutions provider.
Emily
Hodgson-Soule,
MPC,
is
the
senior director of program design and
development at CMOE. Stephanie
S. Mead, MBA, is the executive vice
president of CMOE. Email the authors.
* Use your time off and make an effort to
completely unplug while you're away.
Equip your colleagues with the skills
and authority to handle the workload
while you're out.
TAKEAWAYS
Super-performers are valuable to the organization because they
are self-directed and require little formal management. In addition,
higher-level leaders often follow the guidance of super-performers
because they are talented in so many different areas and are so firmly
committed to their work and the mission of the organization. No
matter where a person sits in the organization, super-performance is a
wanted commodity.
L&D functions play an important role in helping all members of the
organization grow into super-performers, offering development tools,
training and other resources that support and inspire people to elevate
their performance and influence in the organization. In our work, we have
seen an intense appetite for insights into improving performance at all
levels in all types of organizations.
Training Industry Magazine - September/October 2021

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