#382 Is that performance strategy?

Are you wearing that same "lucky shirt" to every important meeting because it worked once? That's not a strategy—it's a superstition. In this eye-opening episode of Growth Instigators, we tackle the critical difference between merely working hard and truly working smart.

The reality is stark but simple: without proper evaluation, you could be running at full speed in entirely the wrong direction. I explore how high performers distinguish themselves through measurement and adjustment, not just through effort and hope. Drawing from the powerful analogy of a pilot flying from New York to Los Angeles, I demonstrate how being just one degree off course—without correction—can land you hundreds of miles from your intended destination. 

This episode breaks down three essential components to make evaluation and adjustment part of your leadership DNA: measuring what truly matters (not vanity metrics), gathering honest input from multiple sources, and acting quickly on the data you collect. As management legend Peter Drucker wisely noted, "What gets measured gets managed"—but I take this further, explaining why "what gets managed and adjusted gets maximized." Excellence isn't accidental; it's the product of constant, intentional refinement. Ready to stop relying on that lucky shirt and start implementing real performance strategies? Listen now, then take on this week's growth challenge to evaluate one key area and make a measurable adjustment in the next seven days.

Chapters

• 0:00 Questioning Performance Strategies

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Have you ever had a friend who keeps wearing that same lucky shirt for every big meeting because it quote-unquote worked that one time? Yeah, is that performance strategy? Huh, I wonder. Welcome to message 382 of the Growth Instigators hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Top Performance Tuesday how to evaluate and adjust performance.

Speaker 1: 0:30

Here's the one big idea I want to land today. High performers don't just work hard, they work smart. By measuring and adjusting, I mean winging it and hoping for the best sometimes works. I hope that's paying off for you. Might I propose another approach. If you don't stop to evaluate, you're just running fast and maybe even in the wrong direction, and if you don't adjust, you're betting your future on a strategy that may have expired months ago and is not working. Let me give you a quick picture, kind of like a ship leaving port. Think about a pilot flying from New York to LA. If they're even one degree off course and never correct, they'll end up hundreds of miles away in a completely different state. Small adjustments mid-flight are what ensure you actually get to where you plan to go.

Speaker 1: 1:29

So here's how to make evaluation and adjustment part of your leadership DNA Measure what matters. Track results that actually move the needle, not vanity metrics that look good but mean nothing. I think we're all tired of those. Second thought get honest input, yep. Ask your team, your mentors, even your customers, what's working, what's not. And then the third one is very important Act quickly on the data. The faster you iterate, the faster you improve.

Speaker 1: 2:07

Peter Drucker said what gets measured gets managed. But here's the add-on what gets managed and adjusted gets maximized. So here's your growth challenge. Pick one key area this week sales, project delivery, team morale. Evaluate honestly. Then make one specific adjustment you can measure in the next seven days, because excellence doesn't happen by accident. It's the product of constant intentional refinement. Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let me know how I can help you or your team grow. Here's a question for today when in your work or leadership do you need to stop? Measure and make an intentional adjustment? As always, keep instigating growth in all you do.