Activate your high-performing habits to unleash your greatness

High performance doesn't happen by chance; it's a deliberate creation, a way of life that emerges from the unwavering commitment to consistent habits and practices. It's the repeated actions that, over time, become imprinted in the very fabric of your existence. It's the embodiment of values and principles that guide your every decision, the rituals that ensure your focus and drive remain unwavering.

To reach your peak potential, there are five core habits you must become great at clarity, energy, courage, productivity, and influence.

1. Clarity: The North Star of success

The world’s highest performers have remarkable clarity about who they are, how they treat others, and what life principles and practices keep them progressing and performing at their very best. 

Clarity is your roadmap to success. It's about knowing exactly what you want, and where you're heading. Without a clear vision, you're like a ship without a compass, drifting aimlessly in a vast sea. Clarity helps you set specific, exciting and achievable goals that enable you to focus your energy on what truly matters in your life. 

Clarity is the guiding light that illuminates your path toward success. It's the high-performing habit that helps you make better decisions, set achievable and exciting goals, and stay focused on what truly matters. Strengthening the habit of clarity involves seeking, activating, and maintaining it throughout your journey.

To cultivate this habit, take time for self-reflection, be curious and spend time visualising what you want, and the way you would like to feel more often in your life. Clarity is about who you are being, which will always impact what you are doing. 

Seeking clarity

• Reflect on values: Start by reflecting on your core values and principles. What matters most to you in life and your career? Identifying your values can provide a compass for making aligned and inspired decisions, now and for your future. 
• Define goals: Clearly define your short-term and long-term goals. Clarity often emerges when you have a clear destination in mind. Break down your goals into actionable steps.
• Visualisation: Use the power of visualisation often to create a mental picture of your desired outcomes. This helps in crystallising your vision and making it more real. 
• Mindfulness practices: Engage in mindfulness practices, such as meditation, yoga or journaling. These activities can help you gain insight, reduce mental clutter, and increase your clarity of thought.
• Get inspired and find support: Seek advice from mentors, coaches, or inspiring friends. External perspectives from these sources can often provide insights that help clarify, support and guide your direction.

2. Energy: Your fuel for achievement

High-performing individuals have remarkable energy and endurance in chasing their dreams, they just do. Energy is one of the most important topics in high performance, a win here is a win everywhere in your life. Energy is the fuel that powers your high-performance engine. It's not just physical energy but mental and emotional vitality too. 

High performers know the importance of maintaining their energy levels to stay productive and engaged and cultivate more joy. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, quality sleep, and stress management are key components of this habit. 

Here's how to strengthen this vital habit. 

Understanding your energy

• Energy cycles: Recognise that your energy has cycles, it's not constant throughout the day. Pay attention to when you feel most energised and focused. Use these peak times for your most important tasks and leave the repetitive admin or mundane tasks for the periods when your energy is lower.
• Identify energy drains: Be aware of activities or situations that drain your energy. These could include negative people, excessive multitasking, or unproductive habits. Minimise or eliminate these drains where possible.
• Rest and recovery: Understanding and honouring the importance of rest and recovery is a non-negotiable when it comes to great energy management. Just as athletes need recovery time between workouts, you need to recharge. Quality sleep, those timely pit stops during the day, self-care, and leisure activities all contribute to re-energising and recharging yourself. 

By strengthening this high-performance habit, you will be far better equipped to tackle life’s challenges, maintain undisturbed focus, and sustain your high-performing life. 

3. Courage: Conquering fear

High performance requires you to act courageously in facing your challenges and chasing your life goals. But where does courage come from, and how do we start to gain more confidence and courage? Well, you might just find that the answers lie not only in moments of crisis but in how we live each day of our lives. 

Courage is the catalyst that turns intentions into action. It's about facing your fears and going beyond your comfort zone. Happy high achievers recognise that growth occurs outside of the realm of safety. They embrace change and uncertainty, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. To nurture this habit, acknowledge your fears, consistently develop a growth mindset, and build resilience in the face of your adversities. 

Understanding fear

Fear is a natural and primal emotion. It's a survival mechanism that alerts us to potential threats. However, in our modern lives, fear often manifests as anxiety and self-doubt, which hinders our progress. Positive courage begins with understanding fear.

• Identify fear triggers: Recognise the situations or circumstances that trigger fear for you. Is it public speaking, taking risks in your business and career, or making personal life changes?
• Deconstruct fear: Break down your fear into manageable components. Understand what specific aspects of a situation make you anxious. This can help you address the root causes of your fear so you can start to move forward with courage and confidence. 
• Mindset shift: Embrace the belief that fear is not your enemy but a natural response to the unknown. It can be a source of your growth and transformation if managed positively, fear can bring out the very best in you. 

4. Productivity: The art of effective time and self-management

The world’s highest performers are remarkably productive and create more time for their life hobbies. In our fast-paced world, productivity has become a precious commodity. It's not just about getting more done; it's about getting the right things done efficiently. Productivity is the key to unlocking your full potential and achieving your life goals. 

Strengthen productivity

Positive productivity is the fusion of two crucial elements: a positive mindset and efficient time and self-management. It's not just about working harder; it's about working smarter while maintaining a positive and motivated outlook. Here's how:

• Goal-oriented mindset: Start with a clear vision of your goals. Understand the "why" behind your goals. When you have a strong sense of purpose, it becomes easier to stay positive and focused, even when self-doubt or distractions show up.
• Time blocking: Effectively manage your time by implementing time-blocking techniques. Allocate specific time slots for different tasks, then commit to your schedule. This helps you avoid overwhelm and greatly enhances your productivity.
• Prioritise and delegate: Recognise your most important tasks and tackle them first. Delegate or automate routine, less critical tasks to free up your time for strategic activities, this will help to minimise your energy drains.
• Positivity breeds productivity: Maintain a positive attitude. Positivity can boost creativity, problem-solving abilities, and resilience. It's a catalyst for getting things done efficiently.
• Regular pit stops: Don't underestimate the power of breaks. Short, regular breaks ‘AKA’ pit stops can rejuvenate your mind and body, and enhance your productivity by a whopping 30%.
• Continuous learning: Invest in your personal and professional development. Upskilling and becoming more knowledgeable not only enriches your life but also enhances your problem-solving abilities and efficiency.

You will strengthen this game-changing habit when you focus on what you love, what you are great at, and what brings you more joy. 

5. Influence: Building bridges to success

A high degree of influence is a core trait of the world’s highest performers, and they have three things in common in the way they influence both individuals and the masses. They teach us how to think differently, they challenge us, and they role model the way. 

Improving your influence

Here are a few ways to strengthen your influence and this winning habit. 

• Lead by example: Be a role model for the behaviour and values you want to encourage in others. When you demonstrate positivity, integrity, enthusiasm and kindness, those around you are more likely to follow suit.
• Empower others: Provide opportunities for growth and development. Encourage others to take on challenges and support them in their endeavours. Your belief in their potential can be a powerful motivator with a positive impact. 
• Active powerful listening: Truly hear what others have to say. Offer your undivided attention, be present and show empathy. By making people feel heard and understood, you create a positive, supportive and 'win-win' environment. 
• Celebrate success: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of those around you. Whether it's a small win or a significant milestone, recognising their efforts fosters positivity, builds momentum and motivates continued success.
• Offer constructive feedback: When giving feedback, focus on constructive criticism. Point out strengths and areas for improvement, fostering an environment of growth rather than criticism.

High-performing individuals understand the significance of influence in both their personal and professional lives. They communicate effectively, actively listen, and practice empathy. To develop this habit, enhance your communication skills, stay in conversations for a little longer with presence and interest, and build a robust professional network.

What sets high performers apart is their ability to harmonise these five core habits. They understand that clarity enhances their productivity, energy sustains their courage, and influence accelerates their journey. It's the synergy of these habits that propels them towards their greatness. 

Imagine a high-performing professional who possesses clarity in their career goals. They know exactly where they're heading. With this clarity, they prioritise their tasks, and allocate their time wisely; productivity mastery! 

They also manage their energy effectively, ensuring they have the vitality to pursue their goals. Now, let's add courage. When challenges arise, as they inevitably do, they don’t shy away. Instead, they confront those challenges head-on, acting courageously to step outside their comfort zone. 

Their influence helps them collaborate effectively with others, gaining support and assistance on their journey. Incorporating these high-performing habits into your daily life can transform your potential into reality. Understand that actualising high performance is not an overnight process; it's about consistency, commitment and continuous improvement. 

Start small, make incremental changes, and commit to mastering these habits over time.