There are two kinds of people in the world: those who want to know more about themselves and those who don’t. Using Ken Blanchard’s words, ‘feedback is the breakfast of champions.’ So, extrapolating that concept, there are two kinds of people in the world…champions and those who are not.
Consider the sources of feedback that athletes receive…
Olympic champion Shawn Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa (my hometown) practices 9 hours a day with her coach. Does it take nine hours to run through each of her routines? No, she stops and receives feedback througout the run-through on the tiniest of details…hand placement, eye contact, etc.
World Series winning pitcher Brad Lidge practices 5 out of 7 days during the offseason. He lifts weight under the guidance of a strength coach who ensures, again, that the tiniest details are met…that maintain the proper form to appropriately strengthen each muscle. He also runs through pitching drills and pitches from a mound with a coach. Even at age 28, he expects to learn something new…maybe even develop a new pitch.
From an early age, athletes learn that feedback and coaching is imperative to become a champion. So why do so many business people not learn the same? As I talk to employees, managers and executives, the body language of those who do not want to know more about themselves is obvious. They fold their arms across their chests, look off to the left rather than directly in the eye, shift back and forth. Do they not want to be champions in their own field?
If I have two employees working for me and let’s say both are underperformers, I will willingly spend time helping the employee who embraces feedback and I will look for a way to get rid of the one who will not. Why? I want people who believe in themselves enough to want the very best for themselves.
If you want to embrace the concept of ‘feedback being the breakfast of champions,’ consider taking these steps to develop:
1. take a personality profile and embrace the results;
2. take an emotional intelligence profile and embrace the results;
3. find an accountability buddy and help each other see strengths and weaknesses; set goals together and check in;
4. get a business coach;
5. take 15 minutes daily to meditate and get to the core of your beliefs;
6. read every day for 15 minutes - fiction or non-fiction - this will give you more insight into yourself.
In fast growth companies, it is even more imperative that you hire “A” players with high emotional intelligence. These companies are dependent upon having people willing to do 120 to 150% every day so that the company achieves its vision.
For more information about business coaching, the emotional intelligence profile and/or a personality profile, contact pam@smartgrowth.com or www.smartgrowth.com