What Do You Say Is The Reason That Consistently You Are a Far Exceeds Performer?

It is hard to imagine someone coming to work intending to get a does not meet expectations rating. For too many though there comes a point when they realize, "I'm never going to make it...around here...with my boss...in this job...with these goals and objectives..." and resignation begins to set in. When that happens everything they need to do becomes an effort and a struggle – enthusiasm wanes to non-existence. Boredom and a loss or interest and enthusiasm kick in. Complaints and friction rise, and with it a general level of stress and tension. The joy quickly gets sucked out of work.

So it is especially heartwarming to come across people who love what they do and are great at it. Given my own interest in exceptional performance and nurturing places to work I am drawn to interview (some would say cross examine) these people.

Here is a snippet from a recent interviewees response – this was from an exceptional performer, and I've been on the receiving end of his work:

1. You've got to be interested – if you are not interested in being great and doing a great job, it's just not going to happen is it
2. You have got to be curious – how does it work, how can I make it better, how can I improve, how can I... about everything, you have got to be curious about how you can do a really great job. Isn't that what we all want – to be a hero to someone, to be really great at something...
3. Got to be willing to explore – who's got a better answer, who knows more than I do, who can help me, where can I find solutions, mentors, expert sources... Where can I find new opportunities...you've always got to be looking and exploring
4. You've got to be willing to make mistakes, and know its safe to try new things and fail. It's hard to go for far exceeds performance if stretching and failing gets you into trouble. And if you are not learning from your mistakes, that's dumb
5. You got to be a continuous learner because things are changing so fast that if you are not continuously learning you'll soon be toast
6. And you have got to take charge of your own performance by seeking out feedback from colleagues, bosses... anyone who sees your work and results. And it's up to me to make sure I get acknowledgement and appreciation when I deserve it – and I mostly deserve it.

So I recommend you make it a practice to spend time with the exceptional performers – the members of the far exceeds club. Get their secret sauce. Encourage them to share what they have discovered about exceptional performance with the people they work with. And make the process of being acknowledged and appreciated easier for them by laying it on.