“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”
Benjamin Mays
How do people become elite?
And once they do, how do they sustain it?
It is well established that competitive pressure influences performance. But exactly how and why has not been systematically researched.
A recent study explored expert golfers (average handicap of 3.0) and the effectiveness of their putting under pressure ((Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., Boardley, I., & Rink, D. (2011). Effects of competitive pressure on expert performance: Underlying psychological, physiological, and kinematic mechanisms. Psychophysiology, 48, 1146-1156)).
The study found that participants tried harder when the stakes were higher and significantly increased their cognitive processing. As a result, they took in more information, analyzed more factors, and thought a great deal more when the pressure was the highest. As a result, performance declined and under pressure their routine changed.
Elite performers or “high flyers” in any field seem to possess a set of core abilities that enable them to succeed.
The 8 Characteristics of “High Flyers”
Ability to take on risk: Elite individuals take prudent risks and see failure as a challenge and not a threat.
Motivation. Elite people have a great inner strength and a positive feeling that they want to change their lives. The elite are internally, rather than, externally motivated.
Creativity. The skill to look at things from a different angle differentiates elite from non-elite individuals.
Experience. Most people have attained quite some experience before they knew when to move on. Most people need to reflect and live long enough before knowing exactly where their dreams lie.
Honesty. Integrity is a core ingredient of elite individuals–both internally in how realistically they appraise their talents and externally in terms of how they interact with others.
Self-analysis. Before finding the answer, most people who had the courage to take the big plunge had to go through a difficult process with their inner selves. Elite individuals appear to have a high degree of self-insight and self-awareness and are open to feedforward from others.
Move into action. It is fantastic to have a dream, a passion, but if it doesn’t move us towards some action, it will only be a deceptive shelter for the day-to-day disappointments, a mere mirage. Elite individuals translate goal intentions into what psychologists call implementation intentions (i.e., actions).
Perseverance. Let’s not fool ourselves: to pursue a dream is not normally a bed of roses. Very often, obstacles appear in the ways that take us to failure or to difficulties. It is necessary to be persistent and try again, and again, in spite of everything and everyone. Each set-back should only be considered as a detour that will lead us to the final victory. Elite individuals view loss as an opportunity for growth (psychologists call this post traumatic growth).
Getting to the Top is One Thing–Staying There is Something Else
In his HBR article published in 2008, Graham Jones outlines four unique characteristics of top performers ((Jones, G. (2008) How the best of the best get better and better. Harvard Business Review, June 2008, 123-127)). These themes can be summarized as:
- Top performers compete against themselves and their own standards, continuously pushing themselves to new limits. Â Their perspective is longer term with respect to goals and accomplishments.
- Top performers can block out distractions very effectively whether it is competitor behavior (e.g., victories) or personal/family issues (e.g., death of a family member).
- Top performers interact and work with other elite talent to stretch their skills and abilities.
- Top performers seek immediate and candid feedback geared to helping them become even better (i.e., they want honest and constructive feedback not admiration and gloating praise).
- Top performers both celebrate successes and reflect on what got them there–they are strongly interested in their own continuous improvements to sustain their excellence.
I guess I better get back to work to compete with myself a bit more, seek out even more feedback and celebrate my small successes like finishing this Blog….Be well….
Ken Nowack
Kenneth Nowack, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY13758) and President & Chief Research Officer/Co-Founder of Envisia Learning, is a member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations. Ken also serves as the Associate Editor of Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. His recent book Clueless: Coaching People Who Just Don’t Get It is available for free for a limited time by signing up for free blog updates (Learn more at our website)
