Athletes and expat executives share a common trait: the ability to perform under intense pressure. In a recent Forbes article by Eduardo Rauen "What Can You Learn Today From High-Performing Athletes," we find valuable learnings that can be incorporated into our daily routines to enhance both personal and professional performance. In this post, I have adapted these lessons to the expat context, drawing from my experience abroad and my work with expat executives.
Lesson 1: Set SMART Goals
Elite athletes don't begin by aiming to break world records. They set intermediate goals, like making it to a championship. Similarly, international assignments often involve implementing important projects or big product launches. Breaking these into specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (SMART) milestones keeps you on track and helps you celebrate small victories along the way.
Lesson 2: Track Your Progress Considering Cultural Differences
Monitoring and measuring progress are essential. Elite athletes use data to improve their performance. In an international context, it is crucial to seek feedback while considering cultural nuances to stay on course and avoid surprises. High-context communication (where only part of the message is expressed and the rest must be “read” from the context) or indirect negative feedback might mask performance issues in some cultures. Getting feedback along the way and tracking your progress, while considering your cultural scenario, is crucial to your success.
Lesson 3: Seek Guidance and Support
Athletes have a team of specialists - nutritionists, coaches, physiotherapists - supporting their high performance. Expats should also consider their support network. Interoots plays a key role here, guiding families through transitions to help them feel empowered and confident, allowing expat executives to focus on their work. We drive your family to achieve a balanced life and offer valuable tools and professional recommendations, when necessary, for your journey.
Lesson 4: Nurture Your Wellness
When the NFL added new psychologists to their teams, they reinforced the inseparable link between mental health and performance. Nowadays there are many studies and scientific evidence regarding the importance that mental health has in improving results, not only in sports. In the study “The Making of a Corporate Athlete” published by Harvard Business Review about the relationship between emotional intelligence and high performance, they introduce the performance pyramid. This is an integrated theory of performance management that addresses the body, emotions, mind, and spirit (including deeper values and purpose).
In conclusion, it's evident that valuable lessons from high-performing athletes can be integrated into the world of expat executives. By breaking down goals into SMART objectives, tracking progress while considering cultural nuances, seeking the right guidance and support, and prioritizing mental wellness, expat executives can effectively enhance their performance. Just as athletes rely on a multidisciplinary team for success, expat professionals benefit from a robust support network. This is where Interoots plays a pivotal role, ensuring that families are well-prepared and confident in their new environment, enabling expat executives to focus on their professional performance without distraction. Remember, in the pursuit of success, a holistic approach that encompasses body, emotions, mind, and spirit is key. Leveraging these insights can truly elevate your expat experience and performance to new heights.
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