Three keys to moving to the next level
2018 TURNS to 2019, as did 2016 to 2017, and 2015 to 2016. The years roll over, but nothing much has changed in your life.
Maybe your situation is that you made good progress earlier, but you have hit a plateau. Getting to the next level has not happened for you.
You might be OK, but you have the responsibility to guide or lead others to their breakthrough to the next level.
Whatever your current situation, these three keys to moving to the next level might provide the insights that you need as the calendar rolls over once again.
KEY #1 MOTIVATION
Tina Turner stopped taking her medication because it made her feel less energetic. She became very ill. Her doctor indicated that the alternative to taking her medication was to die. While she accepted the reality of death, she nevertheless responded to the compelling reason to take her meds.
I have been disciplined in placing drops in my eyes daily. Preservation of my sight is a compelling reason for me not to forget.
From another perspective, history is replete with examples of extraordinary achievements that have taken place because people were motivated to step beyond the ordinary. What about situations in which you achieved something that you were motivated to do?
Challenges are navigated once you are motivated. Given a compelling reason, no goal is beyond reason.
The question then is, what compelling reason can you identify that will inspire you to get to the next level?
What are the equivalents of ‘death’ and ‘blindness’ that you need to avoid?
What hopes, dreams, and aspirations will die if you remain stuck in a rut?
Is there a consequence of failing to get to the next level that is frightening?
Suggestion: Rewrite your story. Focus on things that are missing or that you are not able to do that would make a genuine difference to your life. Block out past events. Also, reject what you have been told about your limitations. Shut out any negative thoughts that you have about yourself.
Change the script to where the focus is on powerful reasons why you must step up to the next level. Cultivate the mindset that failure to move forward is too painful to even contemplate. Moving up is your only option!
KEY #2 MINDSET
It helps to ensure that the compelling reasons you choose are things of lasting value. If you use material gain as your primary purpose, you are likely to end up on the treadmill of seeking to acquire more without ever being satisfied.
The secret is to develop a mindset that looks outwards and upwards.
Interestingly, looking outwards is one of the fastest ways to get to the next level. What if you could help one million individuals to solve a chronic problem?
That example emphasises the fact that having a positive impact on the lives of others is a fast track to moving up to higher and higher levels.
Looking upwards relates to appreciating the context in which you exist. There is a dimension that falls outside of your control. Appreciating that fact bridles the mind and keeps you from going off track.
KEY #3 EXECUTION
Maybe, like me, you have had the motivation to get something done. It was not a selfish goal, and you invited divine intervention. But, alas, it did not happen! The missing factor is execution. To succeed, we must add a range of behavioural, technical and managerial competences to the compelling motivation and rightly aligned mindset.
Members of the struggling West Indies cricket team may well be motivated and committed to achieving positive results for the region. But, as we can see, that is not enough.
Being able to demonstrate the required competences at the right time, consistently, represents the difference between standing on a plateau and moving to the next level. It requires commitment to investing time and resources in developing new skills and in realigning your mindset to success.
ACTION
Ask about goal-focused executive coaching, driven by behavioural X-ray-like diagnostics from the FinxS Playground. Get clarity regarding your what, why and how!
Learn more about the turnkey Leader-Coach Certification programme here: https://leadercoach.successwithpeople.org/engage.