The Flamingo in the Black Leather Jacket – How Leaders Really Practice

She looked like a flamingo in a black leather jacket. Her left leg was planted on the floor; the bottom of her right foot was placed against the right inside of her left knee – the flamingo position. She was about 5’4″, 100 pounds; her short, brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Occasionally, she would raise herself on to her left toes. A flamingo in a black leather jacket and jeans doing toe raises, as she waited in line to board our flight in the Los Angeles International Airport. The pink lettering on her black leather jacket read, Cirque du Soleil.

The line finally started to move. The flamingo took a few short steps forward, using both feet, and then assumed the flamingo position again.

“Excuse me, were you in the Cirque du Soleil show yesterday?” I asked

She pivoted to speak to me, put both feet firmly on the floor and replied, “Yes.”

“I really enjoyed the show. Which character did you play?”

“I was one of the clowns climbing to the top of the pole in the middle of the show.”

“Wow, that was great! I couldn’t help but notice that you were standing on one leg, do you mind if I ask why you do that?”

She looked at me with her big brown eyes, a smile crept across her lips as she said, “It’s important to practice.”

Professor Bloom, from the University of Chicago, studied 120 very high achievers in a variety of professions. His research tells us that if we want to reach our goals we need to practice, and to practice well… by following four fundamental principles of mastery:

1. View practice as play
2. Practice the right things
3. Fuel the desire to practice well
4. Practice increasingly complex tasks

1. View practice as play

When we choose to practice, how we practice makes all the difference in the world. If we approach practice as if it is drudgery, there’s a good chance we won’t do it for long. On the other hand, if we can find ways to make practice fun the probability of continuing it increases. Think about your favorite teachers from elementary school. Didn’t they find ways to occasionally make the practice of learning fun?

Our teachers, Professor Bloom, and the black leather flamingo are telling us that if we want practice to persist we need to add elements of amusement. For example, I was teaching at the Federal Reserve Bank and one of the leaders told me that her team learned a new software program using lunch-n-learns. Everyone brought their lunch, the leader brought dessert, and everyone brought a positive attitude. They had fun learning and using the new software in a relaxed environment. How do you make practicing a new skill fun?

2. Practice the right things

We can practice all we want, but if we practice the wrong skills, we won’t reach our goal. That’s why selecting what we need to work on is critical to mastery.

Selecting what to practice is dependent on knowing which few skills will bring us closest to the goal…FAST! Most of leaders do not have the time or desire to experiment with different approaches to see what works best. Nor do they have time to practice skills that won’t give a big return on their investment. A few weeks ago, a leader asked if anyone was actually using what I taught out in the real world. What he was really asking is what we all should ask before we waste time practicing any new skill: Is there evidence to predict that if I practice this skill, I’ll reach my goal?

Great question! My answer: What you are learning is based on my review of the leadership research. Since the essence of science is prediction, there’s reason to believe if you practice these ideas you’ll reach your goal. I have also received many e-mails over the years from participants who have successfully adapted these ideas to suit their environment. That’s using science (i.e., what predicts success) and soul (i.e., how to tailor the science to your situation) to reach your goal.

3. Fuel the desire to practice well

Even if you view practice as play and practice the right things, occasionally your practice may become a bit tiresome. Here are three practical tips to help you stay on the long path of mastery:

a. Reward yourself. Find small, fun ways to pat yourself on the back as you make progress toward your goal. One executive told me that when she practices ideas she learns in class, she reinforces her actions by enjoying a frozen yogurt in the afternoon.

b. Measure what matters. Find ways of tracking your progress to keep your fire burning. Seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong carefully measured his food and fitness levels during his off-season. Leaders tell me they really apply what they learn in class when they commit to e-mailing a classmate about their action steps once/week for eight weeks after a class.

c. Motivate yourself internally. Motivation is an inside job. So, find out and use what fuels your (and your team members’) internal desire. A manager at the Federal Reserve Bank told me that, although he worked on small IT projects, he believed that his team really had an impact on the economy, therefore on peoples’ lives. The pink flamingo in the black leather jacket felt she helped others by giving them temporary relief from their daily grind.

4. Practice increasingly complex tasks

As my wife and I drove back from Las Vegas a few weeks ago, we listened to an audio-program taught by three world-champions, professional speakers who all still belonged to Toastmasters – an organization dedicated to improving speaking skills, but mostly for non-professionals. These champions claimed that a key to their success was practicing new, difficult material (as well as the fundamentals) at Toastmasters meetings.

In Las Vegas, we also attended another outstanding Cirque du Soleil show. We learned that many performers in the Cirque du Soleil are former Olympic athletes who have employed coaches all their lives. Who is coaching you to higher performance? You may find them at work, in associations, and even in books. Napoleon Hill, author of the great classic Think and Grow Rich, said he read great biographies and “listened” to the counsel of these mentors.

Legendary college football coach Pop Warner said, “You play the way you practice.” So, next time you’re standing in a line, think about the pink flamingo in the black leather jacket. Ask yourself if you’re playing when you practice, practicing the right things, fueling your desire, and practicing increasingly complex tasks. If the answer is yes to these four questions… you are on the leaders’ path of mastery.

Keep eXpanding your leadership,

Dave

P.S. Dave Jensen and his team transform proven leadership tools into your success stories. Dave is an executive coach and an engaging speaker at conferences, meetings, and retreats. He can be reached in Los Angeles, CA at (310) 397-6686. Click here for more info about the research-based, online 360-leadership assessment (XLM): http://xlmassessment.com/

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