World Class Performers and the Role of Consultants

As I write this, Autumn is in full swing and football season is well underway. Every weekend, many of the world's finest athletes suit up and prepare to perform at the highest level of competition and athletic ability. The best players are truly world class performers; they exhibit a high level of performance, but they also demonstrate a mastery of the mental side of the game. These players set the bar for all other competitors, and the standards that they hold themselves to ensure that they achieve maximum success on the gridiron.

World class performers don't just exist in the realm of sports, however. They can be found in every profession – even in business. Unfortunately, many business leaders are unable to develop into world class performers. Unlike top athletes, musicians and other performers, most business leaders don't take time to practice their skills or analyze their actions.

Analysis and Preparation

Professional football players spend very little of their time actually executing. For the most part, they work on preparation, and they spend countless hours looking at game film in order to uncover certain tendencies and evaluate what they're doing on the field (right and wrong). As a result of this preparation and practice, they constantly improve their games and evolve to the highest levels of performance.

Business leaders don't always have the luxury to sit back and analyze their performance. They have to be in performance mode during virtually every minute of every working day, so it's nearly impossible to develop their skills and work on improving specific tendencies. So, how can business leaders become world class performers?

First, let's take a deeper look at the three things that separate world class performers from everyone else:

#1 – They Study “Game Film”

Football players and other athletes are constantly working in the film room. They watch specific plays over and over again in order to determine what went right and what went wrong. The goal is to isolate certain negative tendencies so they can be corrected while maximizing the value of positive tendencies and traits.

#2 – They Seek Out Coaching or Mentorship

Athletes who resist coaching and mentorship might be able to get by on sheer talent for a while, but they'll never become world class performers. The same is true for talented people in any profession. By seeking out help in the form of mentorship, skilled individuals can reach new levels of performance, ability and leadership.

#3 – They Understand That What Feels Right Might be Wrong

If a leader has been doing the same thing for 20 years, it probably feels completely natural and correct, even though it might be the opposite of what's needed for success. World class performers need to rely on their instincts much of the time, but they also need to know when to recognize when their intuitive responses are actually harmful. The performers who exist in the upper echelons of any profession understand when to act counterintuitively.

Consultants Help Create Top Performers

The infrastructure to provide “game film” study, mentorship and the understanding of counterintuitive thinking is not a part of most businesses, which is why leaders who want to become world class performers need to look outside of their organizations for help. This is where consultants come in.

Consultants can provide the “game film” that business leaders need to study in order to improve. They can also provide the coaching that is necessary for people to rise to new levels of performance and leadership. Consultants can also supply a perspective that reveals the power of counterintuitive thinking at the right times.

Make a Difference by Considering Consulting

Have you ever looked at the big picture of business and thought about the ways that you could provide solutions? Do you see leaders who are coasting on their talents without operating at a world class level? Do you feel like you have the ability to provide a different perspective to leaders who need to break out of their familiar ruts? I would encourage you to consider consulting. The business world is changing rapidly, and the top companies in every industry are turning to consultants to ensure that their leaders guide them to successful futures. As a consultant, you can provide the “game film” that leaders need to study to improve, and you can provide the coaching and perspective that so many businesses are missing.

World class performers are special people, but you'll never find one who reached the top level all alone – even people like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers needed help to get to where they are today. As a consultant, you can help talented people reach their true potential. Through your work, you'll not only improve businesses, but you'll also improve relationships within companies, as well as the communities where organizations operate. What could be better than that?

Are you interested in learning more about world class performers and how you can provide coaching as a consultant? Ex3 Matters offers a number of fantastic resources. Buddy Hobart's eBook, “Experience Matters,” is available as a free download, and the Ex3 Consulting Guides are also available at no cost. Check them out today!