How to Perform When You are Exhausted

It is 11pm and you haven't prepared for your critical meeting in the morning, so how do you decide if 2 hours of sleep or 2 hours of preparation is what you need?  What if you have been pushing hard for your product launch for the last couple of months and now you are on your last legs; how well do you continue to deliver results, lead your team and take care of yourself?

I have been competing in the CrossFit Games.  A competition where 209,000 athletes from around the world perform the same workout every week for five weeks. Exhaustion is inevitable; how you perform when you are exhausted differentiates the elite athlete from the crowd.   Watch the video to see how Paul Lee, one of the great coaches at my gym, CrossFit 626, performs in the last 15 seconds.  He doesn't slow down as he approaches the finish line.  In fact, he increases his focus and he manages three "ground-to-overhead" movements of 75lb in the last ten seconds.   Now that is the sign of an elite athlete.  How do you perform as your deadline approaches?  

I have noticed a recent trend with executives I am working with.  Many are telling me they are exhausted, overwhelmed and not spending their time where they would like to.   This leads to them being miserable and not having the discretionary time they desire.

Here are three critical steps to increase your performance when you are exhausted:

1. Make exhaustion the exception, not the rule.  

You cannot run a marathon with a series of 200 meter sprints just as you cannot continue to work to exhaustion every month of the year.  Outsource your non-core activities at work and in your personal life. Focus only on activities that you are uniquely qualified to do.  Assess if you have the capability and capacity on your leadership team to achieve your goals.  Pace yourself and take time off after your product ships or your deadline passes.

2. Honestly assess if you are getting the sleep, nutrition and exercise you need.

It is easy to get into the downward spiral of unhealthiness.  That happened to me this year when we moved house twice within five months and all my regular routines went sideways.  It took a competition at my local CrossFit gym to kickstart my good habits again, now I feel energized and focussed again. I dropped 22lb and won third prize!

3. Find someone who will hold you accountable, even in the last 10 seconds.

Best intentions can get lost if you are relying on your own will power.  Set and share your goals with others and ask them to hold you to them. Build an enviable inner circle of advisers who you can call on for advice.  Invest in yourself by hiring a coach who will accelerate your goals before you get to exhaustion.

What countdown are you currently working against?  How can you maintain your performance until the final bell sounds? Call me today if you want to explore how we may be able to partner, 626 387 7600.

Now book your next vacation and go and get some sleep!

You may also enjoy my recent interview with Inc. http://www.inc.com/burt-helm/what-crossfit-taught-me-about-leadership.html

Val Wright

www.valwrightconsulting.com

Are you imperturbable?

  • You just learned that one of your competitors has launched a new product that disrupts your market.
  • Your workload is increasing and you are feeling overwhelmed.
  • Your new initiative didn't get the Board funding you had asked for.
  • You picked up the wrong coffee at Starbucks this morning.
  • It took too long to leave the house this morning because the cat/your kids/a piece of technology did something unexpected.

How do you react?

Does it ruin your day and does everyone know to avoid you?  Or can you brush it off and not get distracted from your goals and priorities?

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We all know that person, who cannot be knocked off course by any issue large or small and they remain calm and collected in a crisis.  But if you are easily riled like a dog protecting his bone, then you may benefit from these tips to stay focussed and serene:

Write it down.

Taking time to write how you are feeling will help you acknowledge and deal with the issue.  Be specific: what was the issue, how does it make you feel and what was your trigger to frustration or distraction?

Get perspective

Really, how important is this and will you remember the significance of this in one month or one year?  Probably not, so its time to move on.

Laugh about it

Last week, I was pulling out of a car park and a driver behind me was unhappy with me for some unknown reason.  He drove along side me and started shouting at me, questioning my driving skills and complaining that all Mercedes drivers were the same.  I rolled down my window, and smiled at him. I could have shouted back with all sorts of comments, but instead, I just laughed.  It amused me on the whole of my drive to meet a client in Santa Monica, I am sure his drive was not as pleasant.

Post your daily and annual goals in front of your desk

Having a visual focus for your time will help prioritize your activities. When you feel yourself getting distracted, take a look at your daily and annual goals and check if what you are currently focussing your time and energy on will make a difference to your results.

Know who to call

Having an enviable inner circle of people you can talk to is essential in times of frustration and distraction.  If you don't have three people on speed dial for candid advice when you get knocked off course, it is time to rebuild your inner circle.

Take a moment

Listen to your favorite music, go for a walk or just sit and breathe.  Know what it takes to calm you down when you get frustrated and be disciplined to take the time when you need a moment to yourself.

Channel the energy into action

Instead of wallowing in your own self pity or indignation, spend the time considering what can you do to prevent this happening again.

Or as Elsa says in Frozen:

Let it go, LET IT GO!

What other tips to you have for remaining imperturbable?  Please share them in the comments.

If you want to hear more ways to increase your communication skills, listen to my webinar Best Practices for COO's Communicating with their Executive Team.

Contact me if you want to talk about what breaks through your barrier!

 

Val Wright

val@valwrightconsulting.com

www.valwrightconsulting.com