SIICOACH is a blog with powerful tips and observations about personal success, high performance and entrepreneurship.

It aims to help you to

  • perform better
  • achieve more
  • get results faster
  • build a business
  • have a life

It's written by Siimon Reynolds, a highly successful high achievement expert and entrepreneur, who has co-founded two large enterprises, Photon Group and OMG. SIICOACH enables you to get Siimon's latest thoughts and discoveries on productivity, high achievement and entrepreneurial success.

What a Blue Angel Can Teach You

by Siimon 14. October 2010 09:26

The world's most famous aerial acrobatics team is the Blue Angels.

For decades they have thrilled audiences worldwide with their death defying flying tricks - these guys have balls the size of planets.

But look a little closer at how they run their squad and you'll see the Blue Angels aren't just daring pilots.

They are experts at self improvement as well.

Even after 64 years of air shows, after each and every performance the pilots meet and review every aspect of their performance.

Any area that wasn't absolutely perfect is discussed openly. Nobody is ranked higher than others in the review room.

The Blue Angels understand that they can't be the best in the world unless they review each performance.  Every single time.

And what's true for flying is true for business.

Yet very few senior executives regularly review their performance - after meetings, sales presentations, speeches or brainstorms.

Usually, they just get on with the next task.

This may give them the feeling that they are using their time wisely, but they are actually ensuring they do not perform at the optimum level.

The only way we can be truly excellent is to rigorously evaluate what we have done - immediately after we have done it, while it's fresh in our mind.

Asking ourselves what did I do well? What could I have done better?

How could I improve?

Then committing to making the necessary changes.

This one technique alone is enough to totally transform the standard at which you work.

Once you get into the habit of a quick review after each performance (3 minutes is usually enough) you will be amazed at how much better you do things.

You may not be a jet pilot, but you can still perform like one.

Comments

10/14/2010 9:42:30 AM #

Timely post Mr Reynolds! Doing just that as I embark on my speaking career... each one gets that bit better.

Rich Evans | Reply

10/17/2010 2:43:49 PM #

Good on you Rich, good to hear from you.

siimon reynolds | Reply

10/15/2010 10:18:10 PM #

Thanks Siimon.
After each of my last two client calls I assessed myself, picked out the flaws in my performance and made mental notes on how/where to make improvements. It can be so easy to become complacent in the everyday tasks that we have been doing for years.
A good call - thanks.  

Alan Weston | Reply

10/17/2010 2:45:35 PM #

That's great Alan, it's a little thing, but it can make a big difference over time.

siimon reynolds | Reply

10/18/2010 11:43:21 AM #

Pingback from topsy.com

Twitter Trackbacks for
        
        Siimon's Blog | What a Blue Angel Can Teach You
        [siimonreynolds.com]
        on Topsy.com

topsy.com | Reply

11/5/2010 3:32:43 PM #

The Blue Angels kaizen practice seems to be "standard practice" in the best military teams, which may or may not surprise business people who may think the military can be stodgy at times. But military operations need to balance performance and high risk, and continuous learning is a real must -- after each "mission"/project is completed.

The book which got me interested in this perspective is Flawless Execution by James Murphy. The associated business that Murphy runs to help businesses in such "military thinking" is called Afterburner (www.afterburner.com).

I agree with Siimon that very often indeed businesses and executives/people/teams rush from task to task, but rarely review what they had just completed. We all need to do more of this.

Bohdan Durnota | Reply

Add comment




  Country flag

Click to change captcha
biuquote
  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading




Links

Blog Home
Archive
Contact
Login

Feed Subscribe (RSS)