Sustainable is the New High
SUMMARY
Do you feel exhausted at the end of each day or even right in the middle of the day? That's happening a lot right now and that’s why 1 key element of the work that I do around the world is helping people shift their ways of doing things so that they can avoid burnout.
High performance alone is not enough. Yes, there are periods when you need to perform at a high level, but doing that over the long term just doesn't work. We're not living and working in the same world that we used to. There are so many changes and external factors affecting us. The world is different, and we need to alleviate some of those challenges.
And it starts with YOU.
Imagine yourself 10 years from now, having done things differently from today and feeling different. Think about the people you are doing this for. Set realistic targets with me over the next month to change what you're doing and how you're doing it to avoid burnout and also have enough energy to be who you need to be in every area of your life.
I hope I've got your attention today. That's what I wanted to do. If you need help in this area, even though I've had a couple of breakdowns in the last 20 years, let me tell you that those experiences have taught me many things that I can share with you.
Reach out. I'd love to be part of your journey to sustainable performance.
I'll see you next week.
TRANSCRIPT
Do you feel exhausted at the end of each day or even right in the middle of the day? That's happening a lot right now and that’s why 1 key element of the work that I do around the world is helping people shift their ways of doing things so that they can avoid burnout.
Hi, this is Grant Herbert, Leadership and Sustainable Performance Coach, and today I want to continue our conversation in the area of professional leadership by helping you understand that sustainable is the new high.
High performance is something we've talked about for years. There even are specialised coaches who help people achieve it. However, today's leaders need to be taught to lead in today's world.
High performance alone is not enough. Yes, there are periods when you need to perform at a high level, but doing that over the long term just doesn't work. We're not living and working in the same world that we used to. There are so many changes and external factors affecting us. The world is different, and we need to alleviate some of those challenges.
And it starts with YOU.
You can optimise your output and avoid burnout by changing your thinking and behaviour. You've heard me say many times there is no such thing as work-life balance. It assumes that work and life are separate, but they are not. Work is just a part of your life. Sometimes, it feels like it's the only part of your life you have any time, effort and energy to put into. It consumes so much of you but I'm here to tell you, as someone who has had 2 physical breakdowns in the last 20 years, it's not the way to do things.
When we started this conversation around the 9 crucial shifts, we discussed the identity area and this explains why you feel you need to perform at a high level for so long. Thes performance trap, approval addiction, imposter syndrome, the fear of not belonging, the fear of not being enough, and the fear of not being loved. Those are the things that drive the thinking that drive the poor behaviour that led me to burn out. It wasn't just the workload or the external circumstances; it was how I navigated them. And I want to be as vulnerable as possible to help you avoid the same experience.
Most people I work with today are on the edge and need copious quantities of caffeine just to stay awake and get their work done, only to go home and think about what they didn't accomplish. Today, I hope to get your attention so that you can shift how you think about yourself and what you need to do to succeed. Even the word "succeed," being successful, has connotations that are not healthy. It's created a hustle-and-grind mentality, a whole rhetoric and echo chamber around it. People feel the need to do these things to belong, and that is damaging the health of many people around the world. You are probably one of them— not sleeping enough, not eating well, not consuming enough water daily. There are things that you and I do that hold us back from being at our optimum.
This morning, I watched the Austrian Grand Prix with my son, and we saw cars jostling for position. Some cars were faster, not just because of the car itself, but because of how they looked after the driver, how the pit crew worked together to ensure they put out their best, and how they used strategy to reach the finish line. Unfortunately, some didn't. That's what happens in the world of work that you and I are in. You can have the best car in the world, but if you fail to look after it, it won't get you where you want to go. It will break down, and you'll need to put in extra effort and energy just to get it back to where it was before.
The shift we're talking about here is moving from a high-performance mentality alone to sustainable performance. Yes, still being a high performer, but doing it in a way that means you can do it for longer without it being detrimental to your health. You can do it and have longevity, so you can be who you need to be for everyone else in your life for longer. As a grandfather, I got a new lease on life and a new way of thinking. It's not just about me. It's about who I would leave behind if I didn't look after myself well enough. Now, I need to tell you, just as I do with everything I teach, I'm a work in progress every single day, just like you. Sometimes I still run at a high pace for too long, but I'm more mindful of it now, and I'm able to rein myself in. Hopefully, something I say today will help you do the same.
We talked about a high-performance car, and I want to use that as a metaphor. Imagine you're driving along in your car, and it has a gauge in the middle that tells you how much fuel you have. Some see that as a challenge, thinking, "The 'E' or that light coming on is just a suggestion. How far can I go before I have to pull up and get more fuel?" Others think more long term and refuel when the tank is about three-quarters empty, so they're not living on the edge or have to stress about whether they'll make it to the next service station.
So, you need to make sure you put in what you need so your body and brain will get you through. You consume so much of the water in your body in the workings of your brain. If you're not drinking enough during the day, you become dehydrated. Dehydration gives you brain fog, prevents you from making the best decisions, and you never get things done as efficiently. These are simple things, not big things, that you can shift. But, as I said, the first shifts you need to make are in your mind.
You need to think differently about high performance.
Keep working on your identity so you can say you are enough. Yes, you are teachable, and there are things you can work on, but you're not performing to get the approval of others. You're becoming who you need to be to get the things done that you need to do to achieve the results you want. Think differently about saying yes and no appropriately to things that come across your desk. Be able to rationally look at things and consider your capacity. Ask yourself: "Do I have any more bandwidth to take anything else on?"
You are not an infinite resource so you need to ensure you do things in a sustainable way.
Another helpful strategy is to understand your biorhythms. Next week, we'll talk about the neuroscience of performance, but understanding your biorhythms, knowing when you are at your peak, and working around them is crucial. Some people are morning people. I'm definitely one of those. Some people are evening people, like my wife. But if I run late into the evening, it doesn't work for me. It means I'm behind for tomorrow. Whatever it is for you, balance it with your client's needs and availability. Just shift your thinking around these things.
High performance is not something you can sustain for extended periods of time but, if you make these shifts and changes, you can perform at optimum levels when needed.
Next week, we'll delve into the brain to understand how this works. You'll be able to do things differently, so you can reach lunchtime in your day and still have enough energy to complete the rest of your tasks. We talk about time management, and over the next few weeks, I'll help you get rid of that thinking. It's more about managing yourself, your thinking, and how you operate within a team environment. That is the key to sustainable performance.
Imagine yourself 10 years from now, having done things differently from today and feeling different. Think about the people you are doing this for. Set realistic targets with me over the next month to change what you're doing and how you're doing it to avoid burnout and also have enough energy to be who you need to be in every area of your life.
I hope I've got your attention today. That's what I wanted to do. If you need help in this area, even though I've had a couple of breakdowns in the last 20 years, let me tell you that those experiences have taught me many things that I can share with you.
Reach out. I'd love to be part of your journey to sustainable performance.
I'll see you next week.
