Learn, Share, Grow - Improve Productivity

July 5, 2021

Below is a lesson from Fast Company on what improves productivity, as well as our key learnings.

The Blue Courage team is dedicated to continual learning and growth.  We have adopted a concept from Simon Sinek’s Start With Why team called “Learn, Share, Grow”.  We are constantly finding great articles, videos, and readings that have so much learning.  As we learn new and great things, this new knowledge should be shared for everyone to then grow from.

A Growth Mindset Doesn’t Improve Productivity, But This Does

A new study finds that grit is a better predictor of performance success than talent or mindset. It helps you find your flow, too.

BY NICK WOLNY 4 MINUTE READ

We all want to perform our best when opportunities come our way. So why is it that some people can consistently tap into their highest potential on command while others flounder? Do these founders and visionaries think differently than us mortals? Is it their genetics? Perhaps they take truckloads of nootropics? Or do they just have the perfect playlist for getting hyped streaming in their earbuds at exactly the right time?

Turns out it’s something else entirely. According to new research published in the journal Music & Science, the biggest factor in overall performance for artists isn’t mindset, vision, or even a perfectly manicured bullet journal. It’s grit. And there’s good news: Grit can be cultivated and developed proactively at any age.

Continue Reading Here.

Key Learnings:

• The biggest factor in overall performance is grit -- which can be cultivated and developed proactively at any age.
• Grit: "passion and perseverance for very long-term goals." (Angela Duckworth)
• Grit gets you to your destination, flow sweetens the journey
• Flow state - the sweet spot in which we lose ourselves in our art and perform at our best. The pursuit of excellence often requires lots of time and repetition; flow state makes this process more palatable.
• The more fluent you are with something, the easier it is to find your flow state on command.
• When it comes to incremental improvement and pushing the limits, you're better off cultivating self-discipline.
• Deliberate practice develops neural networks today that you can leverage and lean on in the future. Neuroplasticity makes it so that it's never too late to learn and master something new.
• How to develop grit:
  • Develop and protect a trigger - a trigger word or activity can help you settle in to do focused work or deep thinking. Whatever your triggers are, keep them protected and only leverage them when you're ready to get into the zone. (Example of a trigger activity: a specific playlist of music.)
  • Dial-in your purpose - you're most likely to preserver through tough times when you're fired up about the end goal. Paint a clear picture of the final destination for you and others.
  • Fail fast, rebound faster - Grit is caring enough about your goals to get back up quickly when you've been knocked down. Rebounding gets easier when you fail regularly.
• Look for ways to make the long game both inspiring and enjoyable.