We are all looking to ways to get better performance out of ourselves, our teams, and our organizations. Some days we may be rockin’ it, and other days we may need a tune-up. While there are, in fact, many dials that can be adjusted to optimize performance, read on for two fundamental tips to improve performance.

TIP #1: Turn the Sound Up

High performance of an organization, team or individual is dependent on the extent to which the entity has clarity of mission, the sound we need to hear. In this case mission can range from a task to be performed to an end to be achieved. If we are not clear on what we are trying to accomplish or what we are setting out to do, performance will surely be compromised. So Tip # 1 is to ‘turn the sound up’ and get some clarity on the pursuit with some strategic thinking, purposeful planning and where others are involved, alignment of mission. 

TIP #2: Reduce the Static

Performance is typically measured by the effective and efficient fulfillment of the mission or task. Both of these characteristics of high performance are jeopardized by the presence of a constant barrage of distractions, the static that masks the sound of progress and of achievement. Tip # 2 is to ‘reduce the static’ long enough to get into the flow of forward progress. At times this may be hours of uninterrupted focus time. At times, this may be days or weeks of uninterrupted collaboration space made possible by discipline, managing stakeholders, and curating the environment.

It is certainly not as simple as it sounds. If it was, we would all be doing it all of the time. And for most, this is not our reality. And so we may think of these two tips, turning the sound of clarity up and reducing the static of distractions down, as levers on a sound board, to be used when high performance is necessary and desirable.

Image by Vancouver Film School