From Olympic Sports to Health at Work: The Secrets to Peak Performance
The WONE team is built on the principles of what we call a RACE model, where balancing the sprints with the recovery is paramount to being able to build sustainably high-performing teams. Wellbeing at work is often seen as an add-on, not necessary for high performing cultures, yet we know this is not true. A foundation of good health and regular wellbeing practices is essential for sustainable high performance.
In this interview, we dive into the topic of achieving high performance with Jack Green, Head of Commercial at WONE, and double Olympian.
Having represented Team GB at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, to coaching world champions, Olympians and business professionals in achieving high performance at work, Jack is absolutely no stranger to this space. His story is an incredibly compelling example of performance principles brought to life in his own personal journey, and here, he shares a snapshot of his practical advice on how you too can achieve sustainable high performance.
1. Measure Yourself on Effort, Not Results
I've had to learn a lot of lessons along the way, and the first one I love to talk about is how you measure yourself. I lived in a world of times and numbers, where results were the only thing that mattered. But the problem is, results don't tell the full story. When you start to measure yourself on effort rather than results, that's where you really start to excel. Effort understands that you are a human being, and you might only have 60% in the tank on any given day. Know that you will rarely be able to give 100% all of the time, but that effort leads to consistency. The easiest way to become a success is to keep showing up, to keep putting that effort in.
2. Stay in Your Lane: Focus on the Controllables
All I can control is what is in my lane, which is myself. I can't do anything about someone else's actions and behaviors. The only way I could beat them is by executing my own job, my own training, my own execution on the day. Stay in your lane, control the controllables.
3. Find Your Purpose and Why
Start with your why. Before I was diagnosed with my mental health conditions, I only cared about myself. But now, my purpose is around the fact that I want to be able to help as many people as possible. Being able to speak to you today is hugely fulfilling for me because my purpose and my why is to help others be the best they can be. When those tough times hit, coming back to this purpose will help to keep you going.
4. Focus on Your Super Strengths
Understand that what got you here is your super strength. Focus on what you do well and do more of it. Turn it into something that's absolutely incredible. Don't neglect the things you want to improve on, but they're not the reason you became a high performer. Keep being exceptional at what you're already exceptional at.
5. Learn from the Navy Seals: Threat or Challenge
I was fortunate to work with the Navy Seals. They use this concept of ‘Threat or Challenge’ in conflict to bring clarity, because they know performance comes from clarity. When you start feeling anxiety from a situation, such as going into a boardroom, ask yourself if you are being challenged or being threatened. If you feel threatened you will go into fight, flight or freeze mode, which will take you in the opposite direction of clarity. By reframing the situation as a challenge, you can self assess if your training has paid off - if you’re up to the challenge - and move into a space of clarity.
The Seals also taught me that embracing the situation and environment is crucial for high performance. Very rarely in your life are you asked to do something that you haven't done before or that you're not capable of doing. Yet when the environment around you changes, you can get caught up in the noise and the threats of that new environment, which causes you to lose focus on the act. Reframe the new environment, and you’ll find that instead of resisting or fighting against it, you will be able to make the most of it.
Thanks so much to Jack for his incredible insights. If you'd be interested in learning more from Jack himself, or about how we can bring the WONE platform to your team, please reach out.
