Improving Performance
Women's Leadership Institute for Women's Leadership

August, 2000

When I think of improving performance I reflect on my decades of training as an amateur and professional athlete.

Commitment
It starts with a commitment to be better at a goal such as to win the Softball World Series or to increase my best performance by 50%. Learning and improving performance requires an uncompromising commitment to achieve a goal.

Learning
The next step is learning. Find information and resources that educate in how to improve performance.

Practice
Then comes practicing, not just a little bit but day after day, week after week, month after month. There is no replacement for practice.

Failing
The natural and INEVITABLE outcome of practice is failing. Failing is what teaches us success.

Coaching
After failing, comes the need for coaching. A coach partners with us in our commitment in many ways. Sometimes it is calling a 'time out.' Sometimes it is asking a question that enables us to see what couldn't be seen a moment earlier.

Practice
After the coaching comes more practice, yes, MORE practice. The learning cycle continues until we take the 'big nap'!

If you have any questions or contributions to this conversation please call our office at 650.366.7350 or e-mail us.

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