“Dominating the controllables is an essential part of reaching high performance, thinking like the world’s best, and growing your grit,” writes Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, author of Beyond Grit. The process of high-performance seems complicated, but many people tend to make it more challenging than necessary. Consistently showing up each day and working a detailed process often leads to success in the end. With enough time and the right mindset, finding some version of success is inevitable. Here are three areas to focus on when controlling the process:
Attitude: In order to perform at a championship level, it’s critical to control your attitude each day. Every person has a choice when they show up to a situation: see it with a positive, continuous improvement mindset or complain about the associated challenges. High-performance requires individuals to confront situations with a growth-mindset. Even when adversity happens, high-performers focus on their attitude, and their response to the challenges. How effectively do you control your attitude in challenging situations?
Preparation: In order to reach high-performance, it’s important to control all aspects of your preparation. Many people talk about the process, but very few take a dedicated and systematic approach to developing it. The first step in any preparation is developing the process. Once the process is outlined, then it’s time to follow it in order to prepare for the end product. Routines and habits also contribute significantly to preparation. Developing routines helps high-performers feel confident going into any competition. How detailed and focused is your preparation for success?
Effort: Performing at an elite level requires relentless effort in every facet of workouts, practice, and games. The key for high-performers is understanding how to control intensity and consistency. For many successful people, they spend years working on their craft in order to become the best. Developing consistent habits and doing them with great effort helps them sustain their high-performance. Even through setbacks, losses, and adversity, high-performers consistently give elite effort and come back stronger than they were previously. How consistently can you sustain your effort over the long-term?
Individuals, teams, and organizations who reach success become elite at controlling their attitude, preparation, and effort. They know that nearly everything else is out of their control. They often see the positive in negative situations, and they work for continuous improvement in everything they do. Their preparation helps develop the confidence to commit to challenging goals and continue pushing. With great effort, high-performers consistently sustain their habits and routines for success.
How do you continuously improve your attitude, preparation, and effort?