Peak Performance in Uncertain Times

Maintaining Excellence in Uncertain Times

Nothing is as difficult as managing in uncertain times. My clients tell me that the rapidly changing competitive environment and new technologies make it difficult to keep up adding insurmountable stress for themselves, their leadership team, employees, and their families.

Managing people well is even more challenging when you’re constantly putting out fires. How are you supposed to bring out the best in your people when no one has a cue as to what will happen tomorrow?

Draw on your core values and lessons learned along the way. Embrace a plan like the Hallowell Cycle of Excellence. Perhaps one of the five steps is going unfulfilled. An employee may not be in the right job or may not be sufficiently challenged. See previous blogs on the topic of Steps to Build Peak Performance starting with Step 1. The Right Fit.

A plan is a mooring to use during times of crisis and chaos—a strategy for redirecting energies in the right direction. Your plan can be used to correct course. My clients are familiar with my philosophy that you can't sacrifice performance in the name of speed, cost-cutting, efficiency, and what can be mislabeled as necessity. When you ignore connections in your planning, deep thought disappears in favour of decisions based on fear.

The five areas of focus in the Cycle of Excellence can help you avoid fear-based management practices which have the potential to disable you and create barriers for the people you lead. Use the Cycle of Excellence to identify problem areas and decide on a plan of action. Stick to your plan.  Demonstrate commitment to the plan even when you need to revise.  In this way you and your employees can creatively manage for growth not just survival.

I've learned from my clients just how hard it is to bring out the best in people. This very challenge is the reason why so many smart leaders value and use executive coaching in addition to consulting.

1. What do you think about this?
2. What's been your own experience managing for peak performance?
3. Have you read all 5 steps for building peak performance?