Generally speaking, a high performer individual is someone who consistently goes above and beyond their set goals and typically completes tasks beyond expectations. Interestingly, high performers tend to focus on adding value to task outcomes and to self-improvement rather than competing with others. For example, think about the barista that starts your special order when you walk through the door vs the barista that waits until you place your order at the cash, even though it’s the exact same order every single day. While both people are performing the same task, the first barista is adding value by not making you wait and is probably focused on self-improvement by challenging themselves to remember more regular orders every shift.

Key attributes of high performers

High performers leverage their strengths and actively work on their weaknesses to add value. Effectiveness is also a critical component of high performance, which is different from merely being busy. High performers focus on doing the right things efficiently and effectively, not just doing as many tasks as possible in the time allotted.

Becoming a high performing individual

High performance does not happen by accident. It requires deliberate planning and strategizing. Research indicates that only around 2-5% of people are naturally high performers,¹ so, unless you are in that group, you are going to need work at it by setting goals and creating a plan to get you there. A good place to start is to write down your goals and plans. This simple act increases the likelihood of success by approximately 40%.² Writing down your goals creates a sense of accountability, as you are turning the abstract into something more concrete. But it’s not a “once and done.” You need to regularly revisit and adjust your plans to keep them relevant and on track.

The foundation for building a high-performance plan involves three pillars:

1. Building effective habits
2. Developing a positive and resilient mindset
3. Consistently delivering value in work and personal life

These three pillars form a continuous process essential for sustained high performance. When creating your plan, try to identify two to three key attributes to focus on. For professional plans, it is important to align your goals with the broader organizational objectives as much as possible.

Getting started

Starting with an honest self-assessment is crucial. Since self-evaluation can be biased, seeking constructive feedback from trusted colleagues, clients, friends and family is recommended. Tools like a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) can help you identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth. This analysis can be repeated regularly to identify weaknesses that have developed into strengths and identify other areas for improvement.

The importance of maintaining strong habits and routines even when life becomes busy cannot be overstated. High performers prioritize their time, delegate tasks when appropriate, and focus on doing what they do best. These habits become more automatic over time and, eventually, free space for new goals and habits to form. Using an analysis tool like SWOT, will help you see when these changes happen.

Prepare to succeed

Preparation and creating a realistic plan are vital for high performance, similar to athletes who dedicate time to training before a competition. By working consistently at the three pillars of high performance – deliberate habit-building, creating and maintaining a positive and resilient mindset, and consistently delivering value in all that you do, you will be well on your path to becoming a high achiever.

To dig deeper into how to become a high performer, listen to our podcast episode, Building habits for high performance available at ivari.ca/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.