Why You Should Become a High Performer

leadership mindset and goals personal development Jul 20, 2022

Most companies today are on a quest to hire and retain high-performing employees to stay on the cutting edge in today’s competitive market. A McKinsey study found that high performers are 400 percent more productive than others. Hence, becoming more effective in your personal and professional life with sustained results is why you should become a high performer.

High performance versus peak performance

People always ask me, “Is there a difference between peak performance and high performance?” Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes! When it comes to peak performance, an individual experiences an intense burst of optimal function in one area of their life, but this burst doesn’t usually last. On the contrary, high performance involves sustained success across many areas of an individual’s life over the long term. Furthermore, a high performer can get more done in less time without feeling exhausted or burning out.

Hallmarks of high performers

Becoming a high performer isn’t about working long hours and completing projects on time. It is instead about you becoming your best with sustained results. In other words, high performers have harmony in their lives. They do their job effectively while caring for their well-being, nurture their significant relationships, and grow and flourish in their personal and professional lives. Consequently, high performers know their “why” (purpose), work smarter, not just harder, take breaks regularly to refresh and recover, manage their emotions well, and pursue mastery to achieve performance excellence.

Benefits of being a high performer

It is important to note that high performers are excellent at what they do, not because they are naturally better but because they practice certain habits and operate differently than most people. Suffice it to say, high performers are more productive, are hired and retained at a higher rate than others, get more work done faster without burning out, have better relationships with others, and live a more satisfying and fulfilled life. So do you want to be “the cream of the cream?” Do you want to be a top talent within your organization or just someone who wants to be your best and get the job done faster without losing sleep or burning out? If so, your path to such a fulfilled life lies in you becoming a high performer.