What is Workplace Performance?

I am speaking and consulting more and more on this platform:

"Perform at (your) 100%"

The idea came to me accidentally, several years ago. In order to present a workshop for the senior management of a Fortune 500 company, I had to drive 344 miles unexpectedly. My travel day (the day before) consisted of me flying from Los Angeles to Chicago, then from Chicago to Cleveland.

Arriving late in Chicago, I had missed the original connecting flight. So, I had to wait for the later one. At 11:15pm that night, all flights out of Chicago were canceled.

So, I did what (I would think) any expert consultant would do: I called a rental car company, and started driving east.

With the one hour time change (between central and eastern), the drive took just over 5 hours. Just enough time to check into the hotel, take a 45 minute nap, shower and drive to the client site.

When the on-site coordinator realized what I had done, she asked if I wanted to postpone the workshop. "No," I replied. "I promised I'd be here, and I'll give you my 100%."

Now, was I as "good" that day, as I could have been? Was as "on" as I would have been with a full night of sleep? The answers to those questions are subjective at best. Here's the objective truth: As a result of that presentation, the client hired me back to present several seminars over the next year.

I learned something that week. My 100% is all I can give. Performing at this level requires focus, dedication and purpose; I had all three of those going for me the night I drive to Cleveland.

I'll be writing a lot more, here and in my published articles, on this topic. In the meantime, consider for your self: "What would performing at my 100% look like right now?"

Comments

[Bryan]

Jason,

I just stumbled upon this, after reading what must've been another version very recently, one that described your drive in more detail. (Or am I hallucinating???). I couldn't help wondering whether this was a wise decision to drive all night? This isn't an eye-poke; or if it is, please trust that I have on a padded glove...

As I'm sure you know, too many people drive too far on much too little sleep and end up causing accidents that are fatal to themselves and others. My own organization (Dept of Defense) loses too many people each year to this specific problem, and we actively campaign against it. I guess I'd ask under what conditions you'd have not made the drive?

Thanks,
Bryan

[Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA]

(This is from a comment I posted on the www.OjaiPost.com blog... it followed the theme, "can you give MORE than 100%?")

I think I agree... when someone says, "You have to give 110%" I wonder what they mean...

Now, if you want to get VERY technical, you "could" get a heart rate monitor and input your age/weight/etc information.

While exercising, based on the mathematics and physiological records people have tracked, you can actually track at what percentage of your heart rate you're working at.

Now, I've been "close" to 100% (I mean REAL CLOSE!), but I've never gotten above 100%.

So, in my work these days, I'm writing and speaking about performing at (your) 100%.

Here's the kicker, your 100% today won't be the same tomorrow! I've found that I can be on one day, and off the next; or, off one day and on the next! However, it's what I'm doing WHILE I'm doing it.

Can I end the writing of this reply and say, "Yes, I gave it all the attention and focus and energy possible." ?

Make sense???

[Nik Chapapas]

There's a couple of things I like to consider when measuring my performance and trying to get my best. The first is that it is our nature to measure ourselves against something else, or someone else. Many times, we lose sight of our own capability. If we fail to measure up to that 'other' standard/person, that can become a source of negative self talk.

On the converse, we very rarely have a good understanding of just how far we can go. In fact, it's not until we enter those situations that we have little control over that we rise to the occasion and perform. Then we look back and marvel at our accomplishment and have a new perception of what our 100% is. For this reason, I always like training with a partner or coach; my experience has been that a partner or coach will typically push you harder than you think you can perform.

[Mary Kline]

I was Jason's client at the Cleveland location that he drove all night to get to. I have to tell you that when I first saw him in the lobby of our training center in jeans, I was nervous.

Jason did an outstanding job during the two day event and as he states, we had him back many times in the next two years. I still find myself living and trying to coach people I work with on a regular basis the 100% rule. It takes focus and energy to accomplish and when you experience it, you feel excellent. By the way, others can tell when you are 100% and as you will notice, they will want to work and play with you more and more.

[Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA]

Pascal,

Yup... your 100%. Only you can tell yourself, at the end of the day, an event, a meeting, a conversation (you get it) if you were "all there."

Did you give it your all? Did you perform at (your) 100%?

More to come...

[Pascal Venier]

... Your 100%?