99 Ways To Become a High Performer

A List of Bitesized Quips…

Here’s a list of 99 things to do to become a high performer. If you regularly do all 99, then I’m sure you’ll be on the road to super-stardom…

1. Tell people what you are doing
2. Ask people what they are doing, and offer help
3. Enter recent achievements into your ‘external profile’ on LinkedIn and other social networking sites
4. Practice articulating your achievements
5. Communicate progress across your sphere of influence
6. Discuss failures, and what you did to recover
7. Describe what you have learned, frequently
8. Coach other people (with their permission)
9. Find a personal development coach
10. Always ensure that your goals and objectives are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound)
11. Regularly review your projects and extract learning
12. Send polished updates
13. Join company activities and teams
14. Always respond to employee surveys
15. Focus on your performance objectives
16. Attend company parties and events
17. Praise fellow workers – it will be reciprocated
18. Instead of reporting problems, highlight solutions
19. Align to the truth, always
20. Offer to be a spokesperson for your organization in the press
21. If you compete in sports, offer your back to your organization – sponsorship
22. Get involved in focus groups in your organization
23. Prepare for one-to-one meetings in advance
24. Learn basic project management skills, and use them, if you don’t have that experience
25. If asked, tell people about the good things in your life, rather than what’s dragging you down
26. Have fun – and share the fun
27. Be upfront about the things that are acceptable to you, and the things that are not
28. Set standards, as well as conform to them
29. Take risks, and manage them
30. Be nice to support staff, e.g. Personal Assistants
31. Network, network, network
32. Press flesh, as well as the keyboard
33. Conduct working lunches
34. Keep meetings short, and stick to the agenda
35. Show how you make decisions
36. Make yourself accessible
37. Don’t be afraid to approach Execs
38. Be creative and go forward with your ideas
39. If your ideas are rebuffed, try again
40. Avoid email unless it’s necessary
41. Always follow-up
42. Give feedback, often
43. Ask for feedback, often
44. Assume authority, until told otherwise
45. Empower yourself – don’t wait for others to do it for you
46. Focus on your strengths
47. Don’t spend too much time worrying about your weaknesses
48. Smile
49. Roll your sleeves up
50. Don’t let your status confuse your usefulness
51. Use your role as a springboard, not a fence
52. If the need arises, bypass procedure
53. Stand up for what is right
54. Find sponsorship from someone senior
55. If you can, sponsor someone else’s development
56. Keep yourself fit and healthy
57. Dress accordingly – but not necessary with conformity
58. Avoid ‘groupthink’
59. Institute a ‘10% stretch’ – each month set yourself a 10% higher target in something
60. Find role-models
61. Become a role-model yourself
62. Make many friends
63. Help people
64. Invite colleagues to social events
65. However you do it, remember people’s name
66. If conflict is necessary, don’t avoid it
67. Don’t wait to be asked to do something if it needs doing
68. Don’t work late, work smart
69. Never use excuses
70. Never accept excuses
71. Before you hit Send, read it again
72. Sell, don’t tell (if you don’t have to)
73. Share the joy and fruits of success
74. Share your knowledge, don’t withhold it
75. Be different
76. Support a worthy cause, or create one
77. Know how you spend your time
78. Know that your time is precious
79. Appreciate that other people’s time is precious
80. If in doubt, ask
81. Learn how to forget status, eventually
82. Lead from the back, as well as the front
83. If you really must blame, then blame yourself
84. Hold other people to account
85. Read about something outside of your core interests
86. Always be a jobhunter, even within your current employer
87. Change jobs frequently, even within your current employer
88. Organize your workspace at least once a week
89. Create an opportunity for a colleague; expect nothing in return
90. Never take No as a bad answer – it’s Maybe you shouldn’t accept
91. Make sure your body is running on a full tank – don’t work hungry or thirsty
92. We have two ears and one mouth –  listen more than you speak
93. Don’t put anything off to tomorrow that can be done as well today
94. Remember that delegation is not abdication – true as delegate or delegator
95. Make sure the boundary conditions are clear, in whatever you’re doing (i.e. uncompromisable conditions or standards)
96. Don’t start working until you know what you have to achieve
97. Plan, but don’t over-plan – a plan should be S.M.A.R.T. too
98. Take frequent breaks – as often as you need to (and can do)
99. Remember, you’re not a super-hero – so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t behave like one

Do you have a hundredth…?

Then tell us your high performance tip by leaving a comment below!