WHAT DOES HIGH PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY MEAN NOW?

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Let’s shift our beliefs, behaviours and habits to a more realistic and helpful way of being.

A quick reflective check-in, foundhers. Does the idea of ‘high performance’ make you feel a little <insert sigh> right now?

How about ‘productivity’ – does even seeing that word raise your body temperature? 

We’re noticing this conversation popping up frequently across the communities we’re connected with. So, if this is resonating, you’re in the right place. 

At foundher, we’re obsessed with shifting the tired notion that high performance equals hustle, and that productivity means smashing your to-do list in record time.

We’re rewriting the definition of productivity and high performance for our fast-paced, ever-changing world, and we want to share it with you. 

Because, when you see what productivity and high performance can really mean, you can embrace a whole new way of being. One that’s much more connected to the best  version of yourself. 

Let’s bring that back, and more.

Out with the old

Words like productivity and high performance can trigger so many responses, like: 

“I have to be productive every day, 24/7.”

“Productivity is all or nothing – there’s no middle ground.”

“High performance means you have to say ‘yes’ to everything, which means doing less of the stuff I actually enjoy.”

These responses – and that deeper, nagging feeling that your productivity and performance are directly linked to your worth as a human – are common. Why? Because for too long we’ve been sold the idea that high performance is a simple, one-size-fits-all checklist of actions.

That’s problematic because today’s fast, competitive work culture – heightened by the current climate – tells us that there’s nothing more important than operating at your best around the clock.

And when you feel like you can’t sustain that level of performance? Perhaps you push harder, perhaps you notice a sense of anxiety building as you struggle to stay on top of things, and we definitely know that you not only notice, but feel, when you’re losing control of the workload and entering your own version of shut-down mode. Even your self-talk starts to sound a little mean.

The truth is, despite what all the productivity tools and books and apps and hacks would have you believe, there is no one ‘right’ way to be productive. 

In reality, high performance and productivity are completely unique to you. Your goals, your ability to perform, the work you do, the context you live in – it all plays a role.

So, let’s check in: what beliefs do you have that are traditionally associated with productivity?

✺ Getting eight hours of work done in three

✺ Ticking off every last item on your to-do list (in one day)

✺ Never procrastinating 

✺ Working solid 12-hour days without a break

✺ Rushing towards any outcome just to get sh*t done

✺ Downloading every app under the sun to ‘fix’ your productivity

And what about high performance, do these ring true?

✺ Hustle, hustle, hustle!

✺ Success at any cost (including the kind of fatigue that leads to burnout)

✺ Never having an off-day (or an off-switch)

✺ Delivering your best work, all the time – it’s a non-negotiable

✺ Adding to the to-do list, but never taking anything off.

Sound familiar? No wonder you’re exhausted and overwhelmed.

Let’s change that.

In with the new

For too long now, the world has talked in hushed tones about entrepreneurs who can get by on less than four hours sleep a night, and heaped praise on people who declare they dedicate every spare minute to their side-hustle.

The ripple effect of that culture? Well, you only have to look at the Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report (released pre-pandemic) on the rate of burnout in start-ups to see that it isn’t working. 

Instead, give yourself more permission to be a better, kinder version of you. Busy is not your purpose. Burnout is not a badge of honour.

High performance is not about ignoring the signs that you’re struggling. 

High-performing humans pay attention to the signs and do something about it.

At foundher, we’re shifting the conversation from ‘success at all costs’ to ‘sustainable success’; from feeling constantly busy, worn out and overwhelmed to energised, clear and taking control. 

Most of all, we want to help you create a new rhythm for work and life. A sustainable pace that helps you perform at your best, now and over the long haul, without sacrificing your life outside of work. 

We’ll be honest: truly embracing this shift means letting go of the traditional signs of hard work that we’ve long been taught to value and trust. This can be challenging – but boy, is it a relief. 

Ready to update?

Here’s the foundher definition of productivity:

✺ Working at a sustainable (and flexible) pace using more EQ, context and prioritisation as your new toolkit.

✺ Accepting that every day is different, and creating a to-do list requires you to think about who you need to be. It’s about prioritising you into your life, not out of it.

✺ Embracing routines and rituals that energise and replenish. Recharge yourself, just like you do your devices.

✺ Working strategically towards your goal, rather than reacting to achieve any result.

✺ Consciously clocking off with an end-of-day ritual, allowing your somatic self and cognitive function real time to rest.

And here’s what we mean by high performance: 

✺ Intentionally planning your days, weeks and months to give yourself the best chance of success.

✺ Recognising your personal peaks and troughs and adjusting your habits and actions to suit.

✺ Activating the right productivity mode for the tasks at hand, not defaulting to autopilot.

✺ Regularly taking time to recharge your mind and body.

✺ Celebrating your wins, big and small, to cultivate energy.

Sounds good, right? More sustainable. More energising. And most importantly, far more connected to our human capabilities. Think less robot mode, more human mode.

If you’re ready to shift the conversation (and your beliefs) around work culture, sign up to our Productivity Masterclass to learn how you can begin making this new definition a reality in your everyday.