Key to performance is to understand what each of these Performance drivers mean and to recognize that Performance is a product of the three inputs (multiplier effect).

Effort

This performance driver is central to the individual and is influenced by our intrinsic motivation, engagement, stress and our ability to achieve a state of “Flow” during activities. Self-awareness and self-management will help us understand and manage our motivation, engagement and stress, thereby ensuring that we put best effort possible on activities that we are engaged in.

Achievement of Flow is dependent on the balance of our skill (ability) and the difficulty of the activities that we are engaged in. If the activities are too difficult, we will give up soon, and if the activities are too easy, we will quickly get bored.

Ability

This performance driver is about us acquiring necessary domain skills and knowledge to do the activities that we are engaged in. It also includes the cognitive and behavioural competencies required to do the activities. We should constantly enhance our skills and competencies so that the ability required to do the activities is constantly enhanced, and a state of Flow is achieved. It is also seen that as our ability to do an activity improves, our motivation to do the activity also increases. Ability is also improved by getting mentored or coached to do the activities better.

Enablers

This driver set includes all the items that are out of our control but have an impact on our performance. This driver set includes things like brand strength, product portfolio, technology enablement, culture, policies, processes, organisation design, rewards & recognition, goal setting, review & control, feedback, etc. All these elements create an eco-system that enable or hinder performance. It is absolutely necessary that those who have a role to play in creating this eco-system understand it and are constantly striving to create a performance enhancing eco-system or enablers.

Once, we have understood the Performance drivers, we are in a better position to ensure that all the drivers are aligned to enable us deliver exceptional performance. It is also necessary to engage in a good feedback process so that we are constantly calibrating the drivers and improving our performance.

Exceptional performance from activities that we are engaged in our lives are a critical step in our journey towards achieving success in life. I hope the Performance Equation articulated here is useful in ensuring that we are able to constantly take necessary steps to achieve exceptional performance.