Are you a high achiever who wants to take your career and life to the next level? Do you struggle with stress, burnout, or lack of balance? Do you feel like you are not living up to your full potential?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this blog post is for you. In this post, I will share with you some insights and tips from a podcast episode that I recently listened to. The podcast is called The High Performance Podcast, hosted by Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes. They interview some of the world’s most successful people from various fields and industries, and explore the secrets behind their high performance.
In this episode, they interviewed Sir Clive Woodward, the former head coach of the England rugby team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and the former director of sport for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Sir Clive shared his wisdom and experience on how to achieve peak performance in your career and life, based on his four pillars of success: talent, teachability, pressure, and will.
Talent
Sir Clive defined talent as the ability to do something well. He said that talent is not enough to succeed; you need to have a passion for what you do, and a hunger to learn and improve. He also said that talent is not fixed; you can develop it through hard work and practice. He gave the example of Jonny Wilkinson, the legendary rugby player who practiced his kicking skills for hours every day, even in bad weather conditions.
Sir Clive also emphasised the importance of having a diverse team with different talents and perspectives. He said that diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and that you need to embrace it and learn from it. He said that he always looked for people who could challenge him and bring new ideas to the table. He said that he never hired yes-men or yes-women; he hired people who could make him better.
Teachability
Sir Clive defined teachability as the willingness to learn from others. He said that teachability is crucial for high performance, because it allows you to grow and adapt to changing situations. He said that teachability is not about being humble or modest; it is about being curious and open-minded. He said that he always asked questions and listened to feedback, even from people who were less experienced or qualified than him.
Sir Clive also stressed the importance of having a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset. He said that a growth mindset is the belief that you can improve your abilities through effort and learning, while a fixed mindset is the belief that your abilities are innate and unchangeable. He said that a growth mindset leads to resilience, optimism, and innovation, while a fixed mindset leads to complacency, pessimism, and stagnation.
Pressure
Sir Clive defined pressure as the feeling of being under intense demand or expectation. He said that pressure is inevitable in high-performance environments, and that you need to learn how to cope with it and use it to your advantage. He said that pressure can be positive or negative, depending on how you perceive it and respond to it. He said that pressure can be a motivator or a deterrent, depending on your attitude and mindset.
Sir Clive also shared some strategies for dealing with pressure effectively. He said that one of them is preparation; he said that preparation is the key to confidence, and confidence is the key to performance. He said that he always prepared his team thoroughly for every match, covering every possible scenario and contingency plan. He said that another strategy is communication; he said that communication is vital for clarity, alignment, and trust. He said that he always communicated his vision, goals, and expectations clearly to his team, and encouraged them to communicate with each other openly and honestly.
Will
Sir Clive defined will as the determination to achieve something. He said that will is the most important pillar of success, because it drives everything else. He said that will is not about talent, teachability, or pressure; it is about passion, purpose, and perseverance. He said that will is not about what you can do; it is about what you want to do. He said that will is not about logic; it is about emotion.
Sir Clive also revealed some sources of willpower for him and his team. He said that one of them is pride; he said that pride is a powerful emotion that makes you want to do your best for yourself and others. He said that he always instilled a sense of pride in his team, by reminding them of their identity, values, and legacy. He said that another source of willpower is love; he said that love is a stronger emotion than fear or hate. He said that he always fostered a culture of love in his team, by creating a sense of belonging, respect, and care.
Conclusion
Sir Clive Woodward is a remarkable leader and a high performer. He has achieved incredible results in his career and life, by applying his four pillars of success: talent, teachability, pressure, and will. He has also inspired and influenced many others to follow his example and pursue their own dreams and goals.
If you want to learn more from Sir Clive and other high performers, I highly recommend you to listen to The High Performance Podcast. You will get valuable insights and tips on how to achieve peak performance in your career and life.
And if you want to take your health and performance to the next level, I invite you to join my program, where I will help you to optimise your lifestyle, habits, and mindset. I am an S&C coach, sports physiotherapist and health coach who works with clients who want to improve their health and performance. I have 2x Masters degrees and 20 years experience working as a S&C and physical therapy Specialist in human health and performance with the most elite in the corporate world and Premier League and Women’s Super League football clubs.
My program is designed for high achieving executives who want to overcome the challenges and struggles they face in their demanding and competitive environments. My program will help you to:
- Boost your energy, focus, and productivity
- Enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being
- Achieve your personal and professional goals
- Balance your work and life priorities
- Enjoy your journey and have fun
If you are interested in joining my program, please ping me a message or book a free discovery call with me. I would love to hear from you and see how I can help you.
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Until next time, stay healthy, stay happy, stay high performing!