Creating your performance pie

What will it do?

This tool helps you break down your performance into key parts that help you understand and work on the stuff that will really make a difference to the results you deliver.

Use it as a one-off to lay the foundations of your performance recipe. First time out it’ll take you 20-30 minutes to use it really well.

Then use it as often as you want to check-in. We’d suggest once a month as a minimum, more if your world and the demands you face in your role are changing. It’ll take you 10 to 15 minutes every time you use it.

1. Ok, so there are 6 different factors that affect how well you perform – we call these the areas of performance. They’re listed in the first column of the table underneath. For each of these areas jot down what you’re doing, what’s happening when you’re performing well and when you’re not. We’ve given you an example at the top to get you going.

2. You’ve now made a good start on understanding what you’re doing when you’re performing at your best! There’s two parts to this next bit. There’ll be some things that’ll you’re already doing consistently well. And there’ll be others where you’re not so hot. There’s also some stuff that will be more important to you than the rest. For example, maybe your physical energy levels are more important for you than your context.

So in the first column in the table below, rank each area in order of importance. Number 1 is the most important – without it, you’d struggle to perform well – and number 6 is the least important.

And then in the next column, give yourself a score from 1 to 10 on how well you do in each area. Base it on how consistently you do the stuff you know works. Don’t cheat on this – be honest. You’re only kidding yourself.

3. Marvellous. Now, it’s quick win time. What can you change, easily and quickly, that you know will have an impact for you straight away? Choose up to 3 things that you can do right now that will help you perform in your job. Keep it simple – for example, getting 7 hours sleep per night. Those 3 things can come from the same area (e.g. physical in this case), of different areas. They’re things you’ll be aiming to do on a daily basis.

Resist the temptation to choose more than 3 things. You need to learn to walk before you can run.

3 changes to make:

1)

2)

3)

Your plan

Get a plan Stan. The basics you need to have in your plan are set out below.

Plan basics

1. What are you going to do? This bit is easy – it’s the 3 things listed above. No 3 is particularly helpful here. If there’s anything else you need to do, jot it down here.

   My actions:

2. When are you going to start? You don’t have to be great to get going, but you better get going if you want to be great.

   My start date:

3. How often will you be doing it? Getting great has a lot to do with making things a habit.

   Check in dates:

Get serious