I have seen it so many times when coaching executives and their teams. There is one person, the best performer on the team, who is left alone. They are creating results, but in spite of the leader. They often feel undervalued and over burdened.
I wondered if there was a better way so I asked several Olympians and top Elite Athletes “What’s the one most important thing your coach does to help you excel?”
And I also asked top business leaders: “What’s the one most important thing you do to get the most out of your top performers?”
Guess what? The two groups said THE SAME 5 THINGS!
1. Critical Moment Belief
There are critical moments for top performers when they need you. These are moments when they facing a unique challenge such as an important sales meetings or a high visibility project. This is when your belief in them matters most.
Greg Louganis – Won Gold Medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games on both the springboard and platform. He is the only male and the second diver in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Olympic Games.
Question: @greglouganis How were you able to go on to win the gold in 1988 after hitting your head on the diving board and getting a concussion?
Louganis: “@peoplenrg My coach Ron O’Bien said “if you don’t trust yourself at this moment, trust in me, because I believe in you.”
2. Love em
Diana Nyad – In 2013, on her fifth attempt and at age 64, she became the first person confirmed to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. I had a short twitter conversation with her soon after that: in which she said
@diananyad “@peoplenrg Love is a key ingredient.”
Michael Nestor Head, Organizational Change, BAYER, agrees “It is amazing what employees will achieve when they feel that their boss supports them and cares for them as a person first!”
3. Give Support
Bill Rogers – Famous Marathoner, Former American record holder, USA Track & Field Hall of Fame
Email interview – “All 3 of my coaches starting with Coach Frank O’Rourke at Newington HS, and Coach Elmer Swanson as Wesleyan University, and Coach Billy Squires at Greater Boston track club gave me the message they believed in me/were supportive of all on our teams. Smart coaches. Support is everything!”
4. Give Confidence
Janet Evans – Four Time Olympic Gold medalist in Swimming
@janet evans “@peoplenrg He told me not to be intimidated by ANY swimmers, even if they were bigger, stronger, & more experienced than me. He was correct!”
Marshall Goldsmith, Leading Executive Coach, Voted Most Influential Leadership Thinker in the World, Thinkers50 Award Winner (sponsored by Harvard Business Review).
“I help others be the best they can be by building on their own internal motivation to succeed – and helping them digest ideas that help them achieve their own goals.”
5. Push, Pause
Contrary to what I have seen, executives don’t push their best enough. They often get given assignments and left alone to shine. But people with the most skill need to be pushed and challenged even more so. Yes they are self motivated. Yes they will get it done on their own. But to get the Best out of the Best, they need to pushed to their limit. As Kate Hyatt, Talent Management Executive, STAPLES says, “Give them stretch assignments.” And then, know when to pull them back because top performers can be, well, quite obsessive.
Kerri Walsh Jennings -Gold medalist in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics. Her and her team mate, Misty May-Treanor have been called “the greatest beach volleyball team of all time”.
@kerrileewalsh “@peoplenrg: He makes me uncomfortable & reminds me to pause!
Leanda Cave -4x World Triathalon Champion including – 2012 Ironman World Champion and 70.3 (half ironman) Ironman Champion.
Phone interview: “My coach holds me accountable to what I need to do. And stops me from overdoing it.”
By applying these 5 strategies to the best of the best on your team, you will reach even greater heights, and they will thank you for your leadership