How do you bring out
the best in others…and in yourself?
How can you help people
perform at their highest levels?
This topic is close to my heart.
Based on my client’s particular
circumstances and needs, there are
a number of ways I’ve approached
the subject with skills related to
communication, collaboration,
innovation and risking forward,
listening, teamwork and appreciation.
There’s another very practical angle
to the topic of high performance
that I wanted to address here.
It’s top of mind right now
given a visit I made last week
to Coca Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta.
(This is my third project for the company
and every one of them
has been a first-rate experience.)
From the kindness with which I was greeted
by the security team and staff
waiting for me in the lobby
(what I call “The First Moment”)
to a state-of-the-art event room
with top quality production elements;
from the experienced, professional tech crew
to an actual green room
(at Coca-Cola, they appropriately
call it the “red room”)
where I could get ready and focus…
it collectively supported
my ability to perform at my best.
After all the prep I’d put in
through the months leading up to this event,
these final elements greatly impacted
the quality of my work.
And here’s where it relates to YOU:
What do the people on your team
—or those supporting your project––
need to perform at their best?
A good friend of mine was hired
a few years ago at a reputable company.
On her first day, she was shocked
to discover that the chair
in her tiny workspace
was dilapidated and lumpy.
The ceiling above was slanted and low
due to a staircase overhead.
All day long, she had to contend
with a cramped space
and the thumping of co-workers.
How can someone possibly do
their best work in that environment?
Another example:
a client of mine who is a young leader
told me that she wanted to host
her meetings at 7:00am
to start the day early,
let her team know she was serious,
and “get the most out of them.”
I encouraged her to rethink that plan.
Going back to Coca-Cola…
one of the many striking and impressive facts
about the company
is the number of people who have
happily been there for
15, 20, 25 or more years.
When I asked a few of them
why they thought this was the case,
I heard a common refrain:
“The people…and how the company treats us.”
“They take care of us.”
And so, building on last week’s post
I shared about The Power of Appreciation,
I wanted to add these questions:
What can you do to take care of your people?
And what do they truly need
to perform at their best?
You’ll find that oftentimes
a little can go a very long way.
Risk Forward & Rock On,
P.S. I have a particular fondness for the Coca-Cola brand as my great uncle (Raymond Loewy) designed their iconic slenderized bottle.
P.P.S. This post relates to you personally, too. If you’re hosting guests for a weekend, what do they truly need to feel at ease and have an excellent experience? Key distinction: it’s often not what you think they would like. The real question is: what do they actually need? An extra comforter at night? Access to coffee first thing in the morning? Time to sit quietly and take care of unfinished work?
