Elon Musk has been discussing ways to incentivize and retain the high-performers at Twitter and Tesla/SpaceX. He recently stated that exceptionally performing employees may retain more flexible work-from-home policies[1] and would be retained during an upcoming downsize.[2] Being a high performer enhances job security. Plus, it has its perks!
What makes an exceptionally performing executive? That is what Jim Loeher and Tony Schwartz set out to discover. Their findings are summarized in their 2001 Harvard Business Review article title, “The Making of a Corporate Athlete.”[3] This original article was reprinted in 2018 in HBR’S 10 Must Reads On Mental Toughness. Here are some key take-a-ways:
• High-performing executives have a coach, just like high-performing athletes do.
• High performance is integrative and involves physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions.
• Regulating inner energy on demand by practicing a rhythm of intermittent periods of rest and recovery.
• Working out and physical exercise produces emotional well-being, which stimulates peak mental performance.
• Practicing spirituality helps align values, energize purpose, and motivate for Releasing negative emotions detoxifies and renewing clarity.
What makes Loeher and Schwartz’s findings attractive is that they provide a healthy and holistic approach to long-term sustainable performance. Those who practice these techniques are less prone to burn-out, are valuable contributors to their organization, and experience balance with other areas of life such as family and relationships.
*Coaching Tip: Incorporate regular physical exercise, nutrition, sleep, and meditation. They form a foundation for healthy emotions, establish mental clarity, and energize purpose.
Are you motivated to achieve more? Click here for more information on how you can connect with a coach who can help integrate rest into your routine.
[1] https://fortune.com/2022/06/16/elon-musk-twitter-remote-work-from-home-exceptional-town-hall/
[2] https://fortune.com/2022/06/16/elon-musk-twitter-town-hall-layoffs-work-from-home-diversity/
[3] https://hbr.org/2001/01/the-making-of-a-corporate-athlete