High performers are not like everyone else. They think about, and do, things differently. One of the ways in which high performers differ is in their audacious willingness to execute…often when others would prefer to remain inactive or fiddle around trying to have the perfect plan before “pulling the trigger.”
Execution for high performers follows a very distinct path. High performers follow the “Ready, Fire, Aim” sequence versus the more socially accepted, and dismally fatally flawed, “Ready, Aim, Fire” approach.
Let’s look at the “Ready, Fire, Aim” sequence more closely to understand why it far out performs the standard “Ready, Aim, Fire.”
READY:
- The “READY” stage is exactly what you would imagine it to be. This is the initial step where inspiration ignites into an idea, that idea further aligns with our passion, and we’re off to the planning races. This is where we collect the energy, knowledge, and resources needed to accomplish the initial steps of our grand adventure. At this stage it is imperative that we move through with a solid goal setting process – visualizing the overall goal, and then reverse engineering so we can “chunk” up each step. Without proper “chunking” we will find ourselves adrift after only a couple of “Ready, Fire, Aim” cycles…and we will not reach our goal! So “READY” is all about taking our inspired idea, molding it into an overarching vision, breaking that big picture into small bites through working backwards, and collecting the necessary information/resources to begin the next step – “FIRE.”
FIRE:
- Now it’s time to “FIRE” – to take action. This is where we take that very first step you developed in the “READY” phase and put it into practice. Remember, that first step is a synergistic element made of all the knowledge, resources, and inspiration, needed to take this action. None of those elements will likely be perfect - they will never be. So take that small step of action and allow the environment to provide you feedback. Listening to that feedback is what allows the next step, "AIM," to be increasingly effective in getting us closer and closer to our target.
AIM:
- Once we have taken the action of putting our initial step developed in the “READY” phase into the environment into which we intend to impact, we will begin to receive feedback from that environment. That feedback (wins/losses, improved times, reviews, criticisms, sales numbers, improving/worsening relationships, etc…) is new inspiration, knowledge, and resources, we then put into our next “READY” cycle. Entering the new data into our calculus allows us to create a new “Ready, Fire, Aim” cycle that allows us to hone in more effectively on our goal than did our first cycle. Each successive cycle gets us closer and closer to accomplishing that overall goal – step by step.
Each of these “Ready, Fire, Aim” sequences then become “chunks” of our overall approach. Each step towards our goal we move through a “Ready, Fire, Aim” cycle specific to that step...and one that builds upon all initiated before. This is how we “zero” in on our target.
High performers utilize this “Ready, Fire, Aim” approach to guard against the common phenomenon of “paralysis by analysis” – essentially trying to get everything “perfect” before taking action…commonly leading to no action at all!
“Ready, Fire, Aim” also allows high performers to operate much more consistently within a reality highly engaged with the environments within which they are “playing.” They are receiving real time feedback from the environment within which the target resides (creating an open feedback loop), not focusing on the often faulty internal feedback system of thier own mind (a closed feedback loop).
One exceptionally important concept to understand with adopting the process of “Ready, Fire, Aim” versus “Ready, Aim, Fire” is that of “failing to succeed” – as in the quickest way to success is through consistent, multiple failures. In current business jargon this is called “failing forward.”
Are you a high performer? Are you willing to fail to succeed? Do you have the courage to operate in a manner in which the masses resist?
You’re reading this blog – so the answer to all those questions is “Of course I am!”
Then get to it!
Find out more about Greg here.
Are you a high performer? Please tell us why below.
This program will help you become an even better peak performer!
Coaching In The Workplace
© 2014 and beyond Executive Coaching University. All rights reserved.
