Some of us are driven by nature. We think A LOT. We’re always on the go and it pains us to let people down.
Let’s be honest… we’re wired a little differently. We’re the ones who dive headfirst into the plight of entrepreneurship, or the ones who work all of those crazy extra hours at our job. We’re the ones that just can’t seem to get ahead, not because we’re not working hard, but because we always want to do and achieve more, more, MORE for our customers and clients.
If we’re being truly honest right now… the words ‘do less’ or ‘just relax’ are irritating and uninspiring. They go against our grain.
If we do less, the things won’t get done. If we relax we’re not ‘doing’. Productivity, productivity, PRODUCTIVITY! Am I right?!
Aaaannnndddd then comes along our old friend overwhelm… and worry… and exhaustion… and of course the ring leader; stress. Or perhaps stress never really left in the first place? I forget…
The reality is, that over time (for some it’s a few months, for others it’s years) the stress and lack of self-care compounds and we flirt with that all too familiar state…. BURNOUT.
The all too familiar state of utter mental and physical depletion.
Sometimes we’re like the walking dead, hanging on by a thread… ‘coping’ (just) or we fall hard into a literal exhausted heap, our bodies having to pack it in somehow for us to get the message of the extreme pressures we continuously put ourselves under.
I feel exhausted just writing about it.
If this sounds like you… then don’t be disheartened. What you just read doesn’t have to be echoed in your story. You don’t have to crumple into an inevitable heap because you’re naturally wired with drive and ambition.
There’s a better way to function that will allow you to work hard and work sustainably.
I call it Sustainable Excellence. It’s the skill of being self-aware and tailoring your performance strategies to your needs, strengths and objectives.
If you’re picking up what I’m putting down so far you’ll understand that I’m on a mission. A mission to eradicate burnout. A bold ambition I know.
I believe Sustainable Excellence is the ultimate way for individuals and teams to work hard, have a meaningful impact through what they do and to thrive personally and professionally while they’re doing it.
Let me take you through the Sustainable Excellence model I workshop with teams across Tasmania...
Sustainable High Performance Model
Direction
It all starts with Direction. Individuals thrive when they have clarity and a meaningful connection to their personal and professional vision and mission. This is how we develop aligned and inspired goals. If you want someone to take responsibility for sustaining their performance, you want them to have a compelling connection to the big picture and an appreciation for their role in it.
Strategy
Once the big picture work is locked down it’s time to ‘play the man’. I’m talking knowing yourself so well you can confidently work to your strengths, talents and quirks while managing your weaknesses in order to maximise your personal effectiveness. The more self-aware and effective you are in the way you go about your work, the more sustainable your performance will be!
Growth
Without growth and evolution of one’s personal and professional self, there’s no expansion available for the high expectations on your performance. Growth stops you from maxing out and crumbling. You’d be right in thinking the foundations of Sustainable High Performance require a growth mindset and unbreakable confidence… this is what the growth component is all about.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing is the glue that holds it all together, literally. It’s the critical foundation that everything else scaffolds up from. If you want to thrive when it comes to your personal and professional life then you have to keep your body and mind in good working order! I’m talking first class skills in self-care and stress management. It’s a non-negotiable!
So there you go. Now you know my passion, my mission and my Sustainable Excellence model.
The power of change sits with you
Your busyness, your mental and physical health… it’s all in your hands. I get that it often feels like it’s not, but ultimately the truth is that it is. You need to equip yourself with Sustainable Excellence skills so that burnout can become a distant memory and thriving can become your new normal.
If you’re a Tasmanian business owner and you want this for your team, then get in touch. I’d love to discuss how we can tailor a workshop program to your team’s needs.
And if you’re not the boss but you want this level of professional development, maybe you can subtly send this link through to the powers that be? Or you know, go ahead and say you've found this excellent opportunity to up-skill your team!
If Sustainable Excellence makes you prick your ears up and you like the idea of receiving personal and professional development tools, tips and insights straight to your inbox then follow this link and subscribe to receive my emails.
Let’s enhance the sustainability of high performing small business teams together, because goodness knows you work hard!
Steph Edmunds
About the Author:
Steph Edmunds is a Tasmanian based Certified Professional Life Coach, Speaker and Facilitator specialising in Work/Life Cohesion and Sustainable Excellence for driven individuals and teams. Visit the Success Coaching Tasmania website for more information.