The Art of Sustained Performance

Unraveling the What and the How

“Exceptional success requires exceptional circumstances” Wayne Smith

- What is performance?

- What determines performance?

- What is high performance?

- What is sustained performance?

- What’s the X factor you bring to the table able that makes a difference?

- How do you go about things?

- Why?

- Do you really care?

(I suggest you ask yourself these questions regularly)

The extraordinary circumstances

In the annals of history, one audacious ask stands out – the challenge posed to a nation in the 1960s: to land a man on the moon and safely bring him back to Earth within a decade. The task was not just exceptional; it was deemed impossible by many.

At that moment, the world faced a monumental conundrum. Navigating the path to the moon was uncharted territory, and building a rocket of sufficient magnitude, along with a compact yet powerful computer, seemed like an insurmountable feat. As President John F. Kennedy made the groundbreaking announcement, the United States had a mere 15 minutes of spaceflight experience, with only 5 minutes beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Yet, it was amidst these extraordinary circumstances that the essence of great leadership emerged. Leaders embraced the responsibility of continuously raising the bar, creating exceptional conditions that challenged their teams to struggle, strive, and ultimately flourish.

But how does one accomplish the impossible?

There exists no predetermined formula, yet the process can be envisioned in the following manner:

Step one: Define the impossible. Identify tasks that appear unattainable by current standards.

Step two: Employ first principles thinking. Deconstruct the impossible into smaller, more manageable parts. Realize now that within these fragments lie numerous "possibles."

Step three: Elevate the possible. Focus now on those aspects (“possibles” that may be attainable within the scope of “the impossible”. Embrace innovation, new ideas, cutting-edge technologies, and fresh perspectives to push the boundaries on all of them. You know they are doable, so just push until what you are doing seemed impossible not long ago.

Over time, the fusion of new concepts, technologies, and approaches will unlock fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to tackle the seemingly impossible.

By the "end of the decade," the extraordinary becomes a reality, accomplished through determination and commitment to your purpose.

However, the key to sustained high performance is not merely about the "WHAT," but equally about the "HOW:"

“If you take care of the character and the culture, the score will take care of itself”

Bill Walsh

In essence, the performance of a team is the result of its intrinsic competencies and capabilities multiplied or diminished by the circumstances (culture) created by the leader and the behaviors of individual team members.

Performance = capabilities x culture x behaviors

While the "WHAT" and the "HOW" carry equal significance, the "HOW" - encompassing values, integrity, character, and vision-driven culture - possesses the potential to transcend the technical competence, thus enabling long-term sustained high performance.

Why does this hold true?

If our pursuit is enduring greatness, merely chasing numbers and scores will not suffice. Instead, nurturing the human factor becomes the cornerstone of unlocking the extraordinary.

Cultivate a values-based, vision-led, and purpose-driven culture. Delve into the essence of why your work matters, igniting passion and dedication among team members. Foster a nurturing environment, identifying and eradicating toxic behaviors to create the extraordinary circumstances required for success.

In the book "Legacy," James Kerr shares the mantra embraced by the All Blacks, epitomizing strong character with humility at its core: "Better People Make Better All Blacks."

The journey begins with becoming better individuals - united with and dedicated to the team, adhering to the principles of the flock formation.

As a Maori saying wisely reflects, "A little water seeping through a small hole may swamp a canoe." Hence, the HOW - encompassing culture and behaviors - holds the power to amplify or diminish, to uplift or sabotage.

In the quest to foster high performance and sustainability, let’s not forget that the art of leadership lies not solely in conquering the impossible "WHAT," but equally in mastering the transformative "HOW."

By nurturing character, culture, and purpose, we will forge a path towards enduring greatness.

And remember, the strength of the wolf is the pack. Be a good wolf and help build a strong pack.

P.S. Before I go, here you have “The Treat,” where I share some of the music that kept me company while writing … Enjoy as you bid farewell to this post (link below)

this piece of music from the movie First Man, the moment of the landing on the moon, give me goosebumps… it humbles me and at the same time puts a fire in me to want to do more, better… Close your eyes and feel

“Lead yourself, Learn to live. Lead others, Learn to Build.”

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