I went axe throwing for the first time recently. It was a great experience and I learned all about how to throw an axe.
There are two ways to throw the axe – using one arm positioning it over your shoulder or holding it with both hands over your head. I looked around, and most people were using the one-arm throw, so I figured that was the one to use.
No surprise, but I was not good.
The more I tried to improve the one-arm throw, the more frustrated I got. And the more frightened those around me got as I dropped the axe a time or two!
Our assigned trainer at the axe place was very good at his job and convinced me to try the two-handed throw. Lo and behold, it was easier for me to control, and I eventually hit the target. I felt more confident using my balance and ability to focus on the target, and improvement was made.
What’s the lesson learned here? Well, one may be to never hire me to throw an axe. But a more important learning may be how we focus our time and energy – do we build upon our strengths, or focus on our weaknesses?
Focus on Strengths and Potential
We often adopt the mindset of improving weaknesses as the way to improve overall performance. But what if we shifted our focus (and time) to build upon strengths instead?
Ask yourself: Do you spend most of your time on employee deficiencies or is it spent growing employees who are performing at high levels?
Like most of us, my bet is that you can get dragged down by underperforming team members, and they take time and energy to manage.
Make Time for High Performers
How do we change where we focus our time? Well, one solution is to only have high performers on your team.
Since that dream isn’t a reality for most of us, the next best thing is to spend defined time blocks with your high performers – those who are likely to take your organization into the future.
Make the investment in your high performers to grow further and to do more. Work with them to identify their strengths (what they love doing and are good at), and leverage strengths by further developing them.
It’s all about finding the right challenge, taking aim, and following through. Just like throwing an axe.