You do not need to watch much sport before you will hear commentators talk about the sportspeople being in or out of the ‘Zone’.  The elusive ‘Zone’!  It is in the zone that these athletes seem relaxed, perform at the higher level and are able to win games against the odds.  At the Olympics there are a number of athletes who can compete at the same level. Many have beaten each other at previous athletic competitions. However, often it is the athlete that feels like they are ‘in the zone on the day’ that stands on the dais with a medal.

This notion applies to leadership as well. We have moments when we are really hitting the mark and other times when we feel off our game. Before we uncover how to get in the zone lets uncover what it is like, when we are not in the zone.

 Assess yourself on this TEN point checklist.

As leaders, we are NOT in the zone when.

•  Our decision making tends to take longer.
•  You gravitate towards mundane activities as an escape
•  We become reactionary towards those that we lead.
•  We may become a little short tempered.
•  We feel the pressure of our work more than usual.
•  Work lacks the enjoyment that it used to.
•  We feel threatened when ordinarily we would feel confident.
•  You forget what you are actually trying to achieve.
•  You begin to feel numb relationally.
•  You find yourself tidying your desk again.

Unfortunately, these symptoms tend to cause individuals to strive harder. To push more with little or no discernible results. This effectively drives them further out of the zone rather than into the zone.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi pioneered much of the initial understanding about ‘the zone’ and wrote the book “Flow”. This breakthrough notion of the zone has become a fundamental concept for those coaching people into peak performance. Sports psychologists over the years have realised that this is not some ethereal topic but rather when athletes feel relaxed and confident, they get into ‘their zone’ that results in superior performance.

What is required to help leaders get into The Zone? Here are a few keys to ensure that you find the Zone…..

1. Know your Balance Indicator (BI)

Balanced pressure is essential to getting in the zone. For many, people pressure equals performance and certainly we can occasionally peak perform under pressure.  But, we cannot consistently peak perform under pressure for an extended period of time.

Every person needs to find his or her own “Balance Indicator” (BI) activity in his or her life.  There are some activities that you know, when done, replenish your life and act as an indicator that your life is in balance. These activities could be considered your ‘balance indicator’ highlighting your emotional well-being.  For some people it may be that they’ve attended gym regularly. For others it may be reading. For others still it may be time with their children or partner. It may be sitting on a couch and looking out at the ocean. Whatever it may be there are activities that act as the litmus test as to whether your life is in balance or whether you are under too much pressure.

 2. Manage your Confidence

Ironically many leaders leave confidence to ‘chance’ instead of learning to manage their confidence. A few tense meetings and a few minor failures can rob us of the confidence that is so essential to being “in the zone”. A lack of confidence, low self-esteem and second-guessing oneself does not facilitate being in the zone. Managing your confidence levels and being comfortable with ‘who you are’ is a critical element to performance. Something as leaders we must do proactively and not leave to chance.

Two practices to proactively manage your confidence:

• Reclaim what you want. Beware of people pleasing. It is the desire to make others happy at your own expense. This can lead to an erosion of self-confidence. You lose sight of who you are, what you want and your personal goals.
• Refocus on the positive elements in your life. So often we can lose confidence when we get focused on what is not quite going according to plan. The failures and frustrations.  Remind yourself to spend a moment every day to celebrate and be grateful for even the little things.

Part 2 coming soon

By Aiden Holliday

Share this article with friends who will find it helpful