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Are You Walking the Walk?
The LAB Performance
November 01, 2024 • Reading Time: 5 minutes
The best aren’t getting better on their own, they’re getting better because they are being coached.
Steve Gladstone, Ex-HC Yale Men’s Rowing.
Are You Creating the Environment You Say You Don’t Want?
One question can sometimes shift your perspective entirely: How much are you contributing to the very environment you’re unhappy with?
It’s a revealing concept I see time and again with the clients we work with—athletes, executives, and myself included. Many of us declare that we want to be high performers or team players, yet our actions often tell another story. For instance, an athlete who aims to be their best but neglects nutrition and recovery or a leader who desires collaboration but avoids difficult conversations.
Walk The Walk, Don’t Just Talk About It.
This is a phenomenon that often plays out beyond our work lives. For example, I may criticise the negative effect of social media, yet still find myself mindlessly scrolling and questioning if I should be doing more on the platforms. The gap between our ideals and our actions stems from several psychological factors:
1. Cognitive Dissonance: We can maintain contradictory beliefs and behaviors without fully acknowledging the tension.
2. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals: Our brains naturally prioritise immediate gratification over future benefits. Meaning long-term goals get forgotten about.
3. Unconscious Habits: Deep-rooted, automatic habits can override conscious intentions.
4. Fear of Change: Often, the familiarity of our current situation feels safer than the discomfort of change.
I see one main driver in all these factors: the path of least resistance. It’s easier to go with the flow, even if that flow doesn’t lead where we want to go. Changing course requires effort, mindfulness, and actions that may feel unnatural at first.
Nearly every client I’ve worked with underestimates their role in shaping their environment, especially the leaders. Many view it as something that happens to them rather than something they’re actively creating. For example inheriting a unmotivated team or troublesome employee. But the truth is, every choice we make, down to the smallest actions, influences the kind of environment we end up with. It’s a sobering thought, yet also empowering. If we’re part of the problem, we can be part of the solution.
I’ve started asking myself, “Are my actions aligned with the environment I want to create?” Breaking performance barriers is rarely about adding complex strategies; more often, it’s about shedding counterproductive habits and becoming more self-aware. This isn’t a call for perfection. Real change comes from mindful, gradual adjustments, one small choice at a time. As the old saying goes 1% positive change every day and you’ll end up 365% better by the end of the year.
True transformation starts within. Change is never easy, but it is possible. Let’s strive to align our actions with our ideals—not just in words, but in daily practice.
"Make the best decision you can, then move on."
Coaches Notes:
Examine Personal Accountability
Reflect on how your own actions, habits, or choices may be contributing to the very challenges you face. Ask yourself regularly, “Are my actions aligned with the environment I want to create?” Cultivating this awareness can be the first step toward creating a more positive, productive environment.
Address Cognitive Dissonance with Integrity
Recognize any contradictions between what you say and what you do, both personally and professionally. Commit to bridging this gap by aligning your behaviours with your values, modelling the standard you want to see within your team.
Prioritise Long-Term Goals Over Short-Term Gratification
Be mindful of the temptation for immediate rewards that may detract from long-term success. Encourage patience, resilience, and a growth mindset in yourself and your team by making decisions that serve your long-term vision, even when they require discipline and delayed gratification.
Break Free from Unconscious Habits
Become aware of ingrained habits that may be hindering your performance or the team’s culture. Seek to replace counterproductive habits with intentional actions that support your goals. Small, consistent changes are often more sustainable than sweeping overhauls.
Embrace the Discomfort of Change
Change is challenging but often necessary for progress. Resist the comfort of the familiar, especially if it isn’t conducive to growth. Lead by example and inspire your team to be adaptable, showing that the path to high performance requires the courage to step outside one’s comfort zone.