High Performance Culture – Do you have what it takes?

Published by Wayne Goldsmith on November 3, 2017November 3, 2017

Lots of sporting teams and professional sporting Clubs talk up having or wanting a “High Performance Culture”.

Do you have what it takes to create and sustain a High Performance Culture?

Think you’ve already got one??

Why? Because you’ve got a new gym and lots of expensive equipment? Because you’ve got some really talented players? Because you’ve just recruited a world class coach?

Think again………………..

So you believe you want to develop a High Performance Culture?

Or maybe you think you have one already but you are not quite sure?

It’s easy to figure it out.

Answer the following ten questions.

1. Do your players drive the day to day standards of the team’s training, preparation and professionalism on and off field?
2. Do your players, coaches, staff and management consistently live excellence in all things – on and off the field?
3. Does everyone in the team – players, coaches, staff and management consistently practice total honesty and integrity in their communication, their behaviours and their attitudes?
4. Does everyone in the team – players, coaches, staff and management strive to be better – everyday – than anyone else in their respective roles in the competition?
5. Does everyone in the team – players, coaches, staff and management strive to improve every area of their performance and to seek new and better ways of doing things?
6. Is everyone in the team – players, coaches, staff and management totally committed to the success of the team – i.e. are they selfless and do they put the performance of their role for the team before their own egos and personal recognition?
7. Is everyone in the team – players, coaches, staff and management totally committed to living the team values and are the team values consistently reflected in everything they do?
8. Do your players and coaches actively seek honest, open feedback with an aim to accelerate their rate of improvement by learning faster than their opposition?
9. Do your players willingly accept responsibility and accountability for their performances, their actions and their behaviours and the consequences that follow?
10. Do your players, coaches, staff and management have the courage and commitment to hold each other accountable for upholding the standards of the team – and will give each other honest, direct, constructive feedback – preferring performance to popularity?

Score Key:

• Question 1: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 2: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 3: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 4: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 5: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 6: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 7: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 8: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 9: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.
• Question 10: Always = 3 points. Sometimes = 1 point. Never = 0 points.

What your answers mean:

Scores 25-30: Congratulations...you have a high performance culture and a sustainable competitive environment. However… be vigilant. The teams who need to be the most committed to change, innovation and passion are those who are successful.

Scores 20-24: You’re doing OK. Keep working on your attention to detail, your commitment to excellence in all things and your desire to be the best. Leave nothing to chance.

Scores 15-19: You’re a bit like a 75 year old rock star! Can’t perform consistently and even when you do perform it is generally pretty lousy.

Scores 10-14: Keep trying. With a bit of practice you might get promoted to a 6th rate competition one day.

Scores under 10….please stop visiting this site and reading articles about High Performance. You are embarrassing us both!

Wayne Goldsmith.