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The concept of performance is most frequently associated with cars. When your car is performing well it is more enjoyable to drive, it is more responsive and more energy efficient. Constant use, driving long distances over the holidays and sitting in heavy traffic day after day takes its toll on your car and performance gradually declines to the point that, if you don’t schedule a service or do some essential maintenance, your car will eventually breakdown.

That’s why every year, or after a set level of kilometers, we book our cars in for a check up. Expert mechanics complete a full inspection and safety report and make adjustments to ensure your car is back to its optimal functioning level.

Just like cars, human beings also have an optimal functioning level. After prolonged periods of constant pressure, our bodies and brain can also become sluggish, less responsive and run the risk of breaking down.

At the Performance Clinic we offer science based human performance check up’s. In a comprehensive assessment, one of our expert coaches will assess you in over 100 areas of human performance and provide a report that details where you are going well and where you can make some adjustments to achieve your optimal functioning level.

The Performance Clinic is a corporate coaching and training consultancy committed to helping you reach your performance potential. We partner with you to produce measureable benefits in both your work life and in your personal life.

Reaching your Performance Potential
Anyone can reach his or her performance potential. Quite simply, it is being the best that you can be.

This is important because when you are performing at your best you feel in control, your satisfaction with work increases and you enjoy life more. Not to mention additional work-related benefits associated with high performance including career progression, getting a pay rise or being recognised by your peers.

Let’s imagine for a moment that you are performing at your best. You are effectively managing stress, you feel healthy and energetic, you are productive at work, your employer values your contribution and you experience positive relationships. Things seem easier.

On the other hand when you are not performing at your best work can be tiresome, you get frustrated easily, relationships become strained, you feel more fatigued and there seems to be less fun in your life. Things seem tougher.

When asked to choose between the two operating levels, it’s a pretty simple choice isn’t it?

So, how do you know what your performance potential is and how do you achieve it?

The 4 Elements of Performance
At the Performance Clinic we have been working with sporting teams, Olympic athletes, CEO’s, leadership teams, self-traders and all manner of employees to understand what makes people great.

We have discovered that in any given situation, regardless of your role, the industry you work in, your marital status, your sex, or your age – there are behaviours that contribute to high performance and behaviours that interfere with your performance potential. We call these behaviours “performance triggers” and have categorised them into 4 elements.

Psychology – the way you think
The psychology element of performance provides you with the skills and techniques to be in control of how you think, feel and behave. It provides you with a better understanding of self and enhances your relationships with others.

It improves your satisfaction with life.

Productivity – the way you work
The productivity element provides you with the skills and systems to be more efficient by saving time, more effective by adding value and reduces stress and anxiety by clarifying purpose.

It makes work easier.

Recovery – the way you balance stress
The recovery element provides you with the skills and technology to help you replenish energy levels so you have the capacity to deal with periods of high stress.

It keeps performance consistent.

Physiology – the way you eat and move
The physiology element provides you with the knowledge and skills to improve physical fitness, energy levels, concentration and mood.

It makes you feel good.

Using these 4 elements as the foundation of great performance we applied scientific research and measurement tools to develop our comprehensive Performance Profile Assessment.

For more information on our Performance Assessment and what it entails please contact our office on 02 9299 2525

Watch this segment on the Today Show

The New Year is a great time to take stock of all of the really important parts in your life including your health, finances, relationships and your career. Right now thousands of people around the country are setting goals – some will be successful but the reality is so many goals will be broken in the first 2 or 3 weeks.

Goal Setting Statistics

• 25% of all new years goals are broken in the first 2 weeks
• It normally takes 5 or 6 unsuccessful attempts at goal setting to make them happen
• Less than 20% of people actually write their goals down

Top 5 Reasons Goals are Broken

1. Goals set to impress others
2. Goals were forced upon you
3. Trying to do too much, too soon
4. Self sabotage due to fear of failure or low self-esteem
5. Poor understanding of the goal setting process

So why don’t most people set and achieve personal goals, career goals and business goals? Goal setting is a positive, powerful practice when it ignites enthusiasm and provides clear direction.

When practiced poorly, however, goal setting also has a serious downside that can undermine your success. Poor goal setting makes people cynical, wastes their time and fosters confusion about where to concentrate actions and energy.

TIPS

What are your likes and dislikes?

This is a really good place to start. Grab a sheet of paper and make a list of what you like about your current/recent job and also make a list about what you don’t like.

• What type of environment would you ideally like to be working in?
• What would you be doing on a day-to-day basis?
• What type of people/boss would you like to work with?

If you find this difficult to get started – make a list of what you enjoy and what you are passionate about outside of work. Can you find a career in an industry that engages these passions and interests on a daily basis.

Ask yourself the right career questions

Give some thought to what you really want and why you want to achieve it?

• How much does changing your career really mean to you?
  What are the benefits of achieving this goal? (list all the benefits)
  Who else does this affect/impact? (include partner/family/etc)
  Are you really prepared to do what it takes to achieve this goal?
• List all of your transferable skills? (communication, presentation skills, IT and computers, leadership, etc)
• What are the financial ramifications of changing careers?

Polish your Presentation

Regardless of what you might think, or what other people might have told you – first impressions do count, period.  Research points over and over to the fact that the first impression people have of you sticks, especially in a 30 minute meeting or job interview. Spend time crafting your ‘story’ about the experience you’ve accumulated and why this qualifies you to change careers – be clear and to the point, don’t ramble on as your prospective employer will only switch off.

Are you fit and healthy? Now might be a great time to also work on your physical appearance. You don’t have to walk into the interview wearing a mesh singlet showing off a six-pack – but looking healthy and energetic goes a long, long way.

And finally, take a review of your wardrobe. Quality clothes not only make you feel better about yourself, they help project an image of success. Dress appropriately for the industry you are aiming to work in.

Craft your CV

OK, so maybe it’s time to update your CV and remove the reference to being on the Year 12 end of year ball fund raising committee or winning the 800 metres in the under 12 regional carnival. I’m sure you get my point…

Set aside adequate time to tailor your CV to the new career you are targeting. Include all of the transferable skills that you have learned in previous jobs to show why you are ready to pour your energy and passion into a new career. Include all of your qualifications and training courses. Also invest time tailoring a specific cover letter and clearly summarise why you are qualified for the job (assuming you are applying to a specific role that has been advertised)

Process Goals

The science of goal setting focuses on breaking large outcome goals into smaller, manageable pieces, or process goals. Rather than focusing primarily on the outcome of a new career, break the larger goal into smaller bite size pieces. Along with the above questions, also consider:

• What new skills or education do you need in order to change careers?
• Do you need to work out a longer plan over the next 6 to 12 months in order to gain the skills and qualifications necessary to change careers?
• Does your CV showcase all of your skills, talents and passions?
• Have you worked on crafting your story?
• Have you identified the right type of look or personal brand needed to change careers?
• Do you have a mentor or someone you know who can help you change careers?

Review Regularly

Goal setting is not like a long term investment strategy for the share market of ‘set and forget’. Review your goals at least every 1 to 2 weeks, preferably weekly. Don’t leave it for another 365 days. This helps activate the Reticular Activating System (RAS)

The RAS is an inbuilt goal setting device that tracks us towards our target and filters the type of information we let into our internal system. Have you ever noticed when you buy a new car you notice every similar make and model on the road? Or when you want to buy a house you notice every for sale sign in your desired suburb?

Regularly think what it is going to be like once you have successfully achieved your goals. How are you going to feel?

Watch this segment on the Today Show

www.andrewmay.com

More and more people are finding holidays stressful. A recent survey by American Express revealed 40% of British holidaymakers find travel stress unbearable, with the same number claiming a visit to the dentist is less stressful than having a break. The Germans have coined a word for our inability to relax: Freizeitstresse, or “free time stress”. Aren’t holidays meant to be a time out to recharge, refresh and rejuvenate? Stick to the following tips to ensure your upcoming break is more fun than a trip to the dentist.

1. Plan your break.

So many people plan their working days to the last second but fail to give any thought to their time off. Pack early, ensure a good night╒s sleep before you leave and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, not zapped.

2. Leave work in the office.

Don‘t take reports or proposals to finish by the beach. Be disciplined and leave work in the office. Turn off technology and take time out.

3. Prune your schedule.

Adrenaline junkies are notorious for getting back from holidays feeling tired and fatigued. Don‘t spend every waking moment scheduling activities, leave some margin to just chill and have time out. Try going slow for a while, you might just like it.

4. Learn to relax.

Set up boundaries that force you to relax and try doing something else a little bit new in this day and age turn off your mobile phone for a while and ditch the watch!

One of the best energising exercises is the standing meditation, Yiquan.  Chinese martial arts masters have developed amazing powers by using standing meditation as their primary form of exercise.  Standing meditation is very simple to do and doesn’t require equipment.  You only need your body and can perform it anywhere.

Standing meditation

To begin, stand with good posture; your knees unlocked, feet about hip width and parallel to each other, and your spine lengthened to comfortably make yourself as tall as you can.  To achieve this position, gently draw your belly button toward your spine, tuck your chin slightly and relax the shoulders and arms, letting the shoulders roll back slightly (not drop forward).  When in the correct position to perform you standing meditation you ear, shoulder, hip join, knee and ankle should all line up when viewed from the side.  You should be balanced on your feet.  Further, your tongue should rest on the roof of your mouth just behind the front teeth (if you swallow, it will go where it belongs).  Keep the tongue relaxed at all times.  When in this position, you’re prepared to get the most out of doing nothing because this is the best position to allow optimal flow of life force energy, often called Chi or Prana.

Once in standing meditation position, you may perform the exercise of doing nothing in several ways:

1.     Let your arms hang at your side completely relaxed.

2.     Pretend you are holding a soap bubble (or a Chi bubble) about the size of a basketball right in front of your lower abdomen/pelvis region.  You should feel and image the Chi bubble being half in and half out of your body.

3.     Change the size and location of the Chi bubble, moving it up and down the body to wherever you would like, always remembering to keep half the bubble in your body.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose or mouth.  Your breathing should be deep, slow, rhythmical and relaxed, never forced.  Just be sure that your belly expands as you breathe in, allowing your diaphragm room to drop down and pull air into the bottom of your lungs.

As you are doing nothing, your mind will want to wander.  It will try to think about the stressors of your life.  Try to be an observer, as though you were watching yourself from a distance.  Each time your mind wanders away from this glorious chance to be quiet, to do nothing, take it by the hand and bring it back to that quiet place.

Famous expert of Tai Chi and Qigong, Master Fong Ha (author of Yiquan and the Nature of Energy)