When you think of someone who is a balanced top performer, what qualities do they share?
From business leaders to champion athletes, all top performers have certain attributes that lead them to excel. While the physical and technical aspects may differ, the psychological and emotional frameworks are often similar. When it comes to these intangibles, it’s easy for people to be unsure of what’s working so well, or they may not be able to identify how they do it or what it’s called.
Emotional intelligence is a concept that has been growing more in popularity and can help us better understand the mental and emotional components of success.
Emotional intelligence has been defined as "the ability to perceive and express emotion, assimilate emotion into thought, understand and reason with emotion, and regulate emotion in the self and others." In our daily lives, this shows up as self-control, social awareness and our ability to constructively communicate in various situations.
When self-control is low, our impulsivity can be distracting or regrettable and productivity tends to decline. If social awareness is low, we tend not to see how our actions impact others and this can lead to a breakdown in communication and demotivation. In order for us to develop and sustain a successful path toward being a top performer, we must understand how emotion and our perceptions play a role in our ability to motivate, focus and take appropriate action. If we break these elements down to a series of disciplines or daily actions to practice, over time, these actions will accumulate in more profound ways and can become the foundation of a winning mindset.
There are three major mental actions that set the stage for our physical and material progress. Intention, attention and conscious participation are the most important when bringing about positive change and being a balanced top performer. Together, intention, attention and conscious participation give us the ability to exert the awareness and mindset we need to achieve our goals.
Intention
To have intention is to have a palpable image of your destination. It’s not enough to be aware that you want more out of work, life, fitness, relationships, etc., but that you form a picture of exactly what it is that you want to change. Intentions are not labels, so they need to be cultivated by developing what you want in detail. Instead of saying that you are hoping for a promotion in the new year, think about the physical and mental characteristics that someone in this position possesses. What experience do they have? What makes them a good leader? What aspects of the position are attractive to you, and what skills might you still need to develop? The clearer you can see and feel what life may be like after achieving your goal, the more secure your intention will be.
When forming your intention, take ideas you’ve had recently about what you’d like to accomplish and get down to what you want as specifically as possible. Ask yourself questions to refine your vision. What do you see? How does this make you feel? Why is this important to you? Does it align with your values and purpose? Intentions bring goals to life; when you can see and sense what you’re aiming at, your confidence in your direction will soar.
Attention
In the case of performance, attention is the focus we place on an area that we want to improve in our lives. Once your intention is formed, the attention you keep on your daily actions will increase your awareness and separate you from someone who thinks about achievement versus someone who acts on it. You may have also seen what happens when people place their attention on negative things. Fears and anxieties also grow stronger when you keep your attention on them. We want to use this powerful process for the good things in life, so when you develop a positive intention, keep your attention on making the positive stronger.
There are many ways to develop attention skills that can also keep you balanced and provide fuel for your long-term goals. Focused breathing/meditation, strength training, yoga, even games of observation and puzzles are just some examples to keep your mind and body fit. If you want to be at the top of your game, align your actions with your aspirations.
Conscious Participation
In the context of being productive, conscious (aware and perceiving) participation (involvement) is actively experiencing our interactions in the present moment. While people spend a considerable amount of time dwelling on the past or projecting the future, those who are winning are focused on the present and taking action on what can be accomplished now. Conscious participation amplifies success by reinforcing the value of each experience and aligning our choices with our goals through our present moment awareness.
The more activities you participate in toward your intended goals, the more likely you are to have success. Our calendars often reveal our priorities, so input tasks related to your goal and for your well being, such as career enrichment, exercising, activities with family/friends, meditation and reading. When it comes to taking balanced action, any activity that gives you energy, improves your focus or is goal-related is worth scheduling. Big achievements take time, so find the smaller things you can do now that move you forward.
While situational awareness and emotional control may appear to be naturally existing attributes, we can take steps to improve these aspects of emotional intelligence by practicing intention, attention and conscious participation each day. To be truly effective, we must maintain a balance in attending to our business, our family/friends and ourselves. This balance along with keeping your attention on your intention in the present will drive your productivity with the endurance and longevity necessary for continued success.
