Plan to Deliver a ‘WOW’ Performance in 2020

This will be our last blog until we return in Jan. 2020! And later this week our subscribers can expect a free Holiday e-book as part of our annual thank you and tradition. Please enjoy it, share it. We wish all of you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

What It’s About: As we near the end of the calendar year, I’ve been thinking a lot about the behavior of people I really want to work with versus those folks that I have a hard time waiting for and/or investing in. These phenomenal contributors, who I think of as “WOW people,” seem to find a way to pleasantly surprise me with their work. They understand what I really need to get something done, and then somehow find a way to deliver more than what I hoped for. It’s much more than volume. They have a knack for finding added value, that literally makes me say “WOW.” Average performers seem to be happy just to get the job done. They find the easiest way to complete a transaction. And if I need to pivot or ask for something unexpected, they tend to “cluck” and make sure to let me know that they’re put out. I recognize that I have high standards of performance. However, this is not daunting for “WOW” folks. They embrace the phrase: “How might we?”

Why It’s Important: As I reflect on my 40-plus year career, I recognize the difference between the few WOW performers and frankly, the many average transactors. So, if people want to be more WOW employees, here are some steps to take: First and foremost invest in THINKING, give a little more space to consider how to deliver outstanding work, become results focused more than activity driven, and experiment and try new stuff. These people see themselves as artisans, regardless of how straightforward the work. They don't necessarily work harder or faster. However, they almost always deliver more that what was hoped for or expected!

In contrast, average performers work like they can hardly wait to get an assigned item off their agenda, and/or procrastinate so that somehow the expectation goes away. I think the root cause is confidence and NOT knowing how to apply critical thinking and focus. These people rarely seek feedback on their work for reasons unique to them. They avoid knowing how they’re really doing. They also seem to get distracted easily and frustrated by unexpected events or a last minute changes. Stanford’s Carol Dweck might also view them as having a fixed versus growth mindset? I want to be compassionate and empathetic. However, I honestly prefer to find more WOW people and invest my development time in them.

Most of us are on a spectrum for everything. Hardly anyone is a 100 percent WOW or BLAH performer. Even so, we trend and tend to be more one way or another. As you think about your assignment and contribution in the new year/decade, ask yourself: “How might I deliver more WOW in 2020?” Do this for yourself as a practiced artisan rather than a transacting employee. Anyone can do a job. Few deliver ”WOW.” And yet each of us is fully capable of becoming that type of contributor if we put our MINDSET to it!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

Lorne

One Millennial View: I’ve certainly had days where I couldn’t wait to just get everything done and then get out of there as fast as possible. However, when you truly take pride in the product/work you’re doing, and are able to deliver a “wow” or extra effort, it feels a whole lot better than clocking out ever does. It’s literally fun. Perhaps the question we can also ask ourselves, is if we’re just performing on an average level, why is that? If we don’t care about what we’re doing, how can that change? Maybe if we’re so average, our best move would be to just bail completely and find something different that we can wow at (most of the time, anyways).

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis.

Plan to Deliver a ‘WOW’ Performance in 2020

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