Setting off into dense mist with snow stinging my face like tiny needles felt a bit crazy because I knew we were at the top of an unfamiliar piste with a steep descent of about 2000m ahead of us.   The weather had changed dramatically, however all the training and relentless practicing of the basics paid off; what would have been impossible only a couple of years ago was challenging but very achievable.  Are you still practicing the basics in case the conditions become more challenging? 

Awareness, skill and technique
Skiing requires an exceptional amount of awareness, skill and technique at many levels that can take years to develop.  Each level of skill builds on the previous ones and enables you to tackle more challenging conditions with greater speed while remaining safe and avoiding serious accidents.  It is a great metaphor for managing a business or team.

With skiing it’s all about how well you are using the ‘edge’ of your skis.  As you acquire more awareness of good skiing posture; for example how to adjust your centre of gravity by leaning forwards and bending your legs in just the right way, you can shift your body weight from one leg to the other and alter the angle of your skis.  This gives you more or less ‘edge’ because you are applying pressure to different parts of your skis.   The more edge you have the more control you have. 

When you progress to ever steeper slopes you need to become more comfortable with body positions that are way out of your comfort zone and initially feel totally counter-intuitive because they are not natural and very different to what you are used to when walking or running on flat terrain. 

Any uncontrolled tension in the body will make you stiff and unable to recover from the myriad of lumps, bumps and rapid manoeuvres that are part of descending a steep slope.  The key is maintaining a totally relaxed but very alert mind and body. This means you also need to manage your thoughts which initially tell you that these positions are completely wrong, very dangerous and will cause you to fall over, when in fact they make you safer and give you more control.

Developing comfort, confidence and ease
It is only by relentlessly practicing the basics, even when you are on easy terrain, that you will develop the comfort, confidence and ease that will enable you to cope with far more challenging conditions.

As the New Year gets underway and the economic outlook continues to be very unpredictable with threats of a triple dip recession, we need to be careful that the relentless busyness of work does not distract us from practicing the basics.

For example, are you:

• Reminding people about your vision for the business (or your department / team)?
• Reviewing the key measures and indicators of performance that show how much progress is being made so you can focus people on the priorities?
• Giving new recruits a thorough induction with clear expectations for their probation period?
• Ensuring that new recruits get plenty of feedback about their progress and likelihood of meeting the probation requirements?
• Ensuring that all staff, managers and directors have up to date, clear and unambiguous outcome-based Job Descriptions that state what the role is required to deliver?
• Ensuring that all people are having regular FACT Based Appraisals to give them the necessary feedback and encouragement and resources to progress to the next level of performance?
• Ensuring that Managers and Directors are continuously improving and updating their management skills?
• Openly celebrating successes?
• Being relentless about evaluating what works and what needs to change?
• Being robust about addressing underperformance as early as possible?

Some of the items above take more effort than others and it is often easier to put them off because even though they are ‘important’ is always some other ‘urgent’ priority to address – just like it is always easier to ski very fast down well-groomed slopes on a bright sunny day with little thought about practicing technique. 

Don’t be shy
All of the basics above have one thing in common: Communication.  So if you don’t continuously practice communication by addressing them, especially when the conditions are easy, it will be far more difficult to address them when things become more challenging.

Many managers shy away from praising good performance and celebrating success because they don’t want to be patronising, but have you ever heard someone complain that they get too much praise?

Many managers also shy away from confronting underperformance because they haven’t practiced communicating minimum standards and discussing consequences.  Doing this even when the going is good means you can celebrate standards being met and everyone is alert to any slipping of standards so they can easily adjust rather than having to take drastic action because things have become so bad.

I have experienced a number of situations where there is serious underperformance and none of the basics above are in place.  This makes addressing the situation very difficult and painful.  There are often a number of casualties, and if it’s too late this can include the whole business. 

There is also the sobering thought that without the basics it will be very difficult and costly defending yourself in a claim of unfair or unlawful treatment. 

Giving yourself more ‘edge’
As you consider the above I invite you to think about what will give you more ‘edge’ in your communication.  How willing are you to step out of your comfort zone and into what may feel un-natural and uncomfortable (but will actually give you even more control)?  What will help you maintain a totally relaxed but very alert mind and body so you avoid over reacting?  What investment you are going to make in your own development and the development of your team to ensure that there is enough practice?

• Is it about implementing the basics or ensuring they are applied more consistently? 
• Is it about stretching yourself out of your comfort zone to celebrate more success or address any underperformance?
• Is it about developing new skills or just practicing the ones you have?

I’d be very interested to hear some of your comments, opinions and ideas about how to get even more ‘edge’ in 2013.   I’ll respond to every comment made below.

Remember . . . Stay Curious!

With best regards
David Klaasen 
www.InspiredWorking.com

David Klaasen is director and owner of the niche HR consultancy, Inspired Working Ltd.  (www.InspiredWorking.com)
If you have a communication or performance problem and would like some objective advice drop him a line at info@InspiredWorking.com.