5 Proven Habits of High Performers

Category

Productivity

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Date

October 8, 2024

Success isn’t a mystery, nor is it an accident. High performers consistently follow a combination of daily habits, choices, and systems. 

Whether you're an entrepreneur scaling your business or a career professional aiming to elevate your position, adopting these habits can drastically improve your performance, efficiency, and overall results.

Since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with optimizing my performance. 

This comes down to building a solid routine of habits that allow me to show up and show out consistently. 

Here are five proven habits of high performers that can help you reach the next level in your professional journey:

1. Prioritize and Plan with Precision

High performers know that clarity drives success. 

They don’t just wake up and react to whatever comes their way. 

Instead, they carefully plan their days, weeks, and even months with a clear vision of their priorities. 

This involves:

Daily goal setting:

Take 10 minutes at the start of each day to write down the top 3 tasks moving you closer to your long-term goals.

Time blocking:

High performers structure their day around focused work periods (often called time blocks), ensuring their most important work gets done without interruptions.

By actively planning and prioritizing, you eliminate distractions and focus your energy on what truly matters.

Download our free career flight plan worksheet!

2. Practice Continuous Learning

The best leaders and entrepreneurs never stop learning. 

They understand that staying on the cutting edge of their industry or honing their skill set gives them a competitive advantage. 

This habit can take various forms, such as:

Reading regularly:

Whether it’s industry news, business books, or personal development resources, consistent reading keeps your knowledge fresh and relevant.

Seeking mentors and coaches:

High performers seek guidance from those who have been where they want to go. They value feedback and view it as a tool for growth. 

Committing to continuous learning ensures that you're always growing and evolving as a professional.

Join our Mentee community now!

3. Optimize Health and Energy

You can’t perform at your best if you’re running on fumes. 

High performers recognize that their health is directly linked to their productivity and success. 

They prioritize:

Physical health:

Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and proper sleep routines keep their energy levels high.

Mental well-being:

Practices like meditation, mindfulness, or journaling help to manage stress and maintain focus.

When you optimize your energy levels, you bring your best self to the table daily—whether it’s a client meeting, a negotiation, or just focusing on deep work.

Read my book Optimal Health!

4. Develop Resilience and a Growth Mindset

Challenges are inevitable, especially for entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals.

 

High performers don’t shy away from them. Instead, they:

Embrace failure as a learning opportunity:

Setbacks are viewed as stepping stones to growth, not reasons to quit. They reflect on what went wrong, adapt, and come back stronger.

Cultivate resilience:

They stay the course, even when things get tough, and they have a clear "why" that motivates them to persist through challenges.

Resilience paired with a growth mindset ensures that temporary failures never derail long-term progress.

Watch my TEDx talk and learn my framework for resilience!

5. Master Effective Communication

High performers excel in communication, whether it’s with their team, clients, or stakeholders. 

They understand communication is key to fostering trust, collaboration, and growth. 

They practice:

Active listening:

High performers are great listeners. They make others feel heard, which builds stronger relationships.

Clear articulation:

They ensure that their ideas are communicated clearly, whether pitching to an investor or delegating to a team member.

Effective communication doesn’t just help you get your message across; it also builds rapport, solves problems, and can be the difference between a missed opportunity and a breakthrough.

Conclusion: Build Your Own Success

Consider adopting these habits if you’re serious about achieving high performance in your career or business. 

They’re not overnight changes but require consistent practice. 

The more you integrate these habits into your daily routine, the more you’ll see improvements in productivity, focus, and success.

Remember, high performance is a journey. 

It’s about continuously improving yourself and your systems to reach new heights. 

Start small, focus on one or two habits, and watch how they compound into bigger wins over time.

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Chris M Wilson

Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.

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