Measuring and Maintaining Highs & Lows

There’s lots of talk about time: in the long haul or in the short-term. Investment consultants and gurus are confusing us with terminology and jargon that sound more impressive than expressive. In a time of great confusion and uncertainty, clarity and simplicity are key considerations when leading and influencing minds and hearts.

Last year's Mount Faber Run result.

In most of what we do, risk is involved. There are implications and consequences for each decision we make in a relationship. How do you assess risks? How do you maintain your sense of professionalism in your business? How do ‘reset’ when you get ‘upset’? How do you ‘time out’ when you experience ‘down time’? Who do you trust during ‘down-turns’ of the economy? That is why regular measurements and calibrations are relevant. Yesterday's 10K race showed an improvement of two minutes, which was deeply satisfying despite missing a podium placing by two spots. So, relative scores via ranking, personal timing, and annual positions are measures of progress or diminishing performance. 

Same race, one year later: An improvement of two minutes.

In running, when we get winded we need to slow down. That is why ‘keeping to your pace’ is so important in training and racing. Once physical fatigue sets in, we will want to ward it off for as long as we can so as to complete the race. Measuring and using recent data can be vital to our peak performance. We consume nutritional aids or take naps, so that we can ward off mental fatigue when we write or present papers or research data. Thus, pacing is as important as creating a sense of balance and perspective in our lives. Actively balancing our priorities is a skill and awareness we need to develop, so that we do not lose sight of the fact that we are living our lives, and need to engage our foresight and insight.

Leadership Lessons: Which kinds of measurements do you take regularly? How do you know when you re making progress in a project? What do you do when the ‘alarm bells’ ring? Which contingencies do engage when are falling behind, or faltering?