Coach’s Corner: Strategies to Help You Stay In The Zone
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By Mark Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, JP & Associates Realtors
What’s on my mind as I write today’s column? The emotional toil we’ve all gone through this past year. And how to stay “in the zone” despite the circumstances happening around us.
My youngest son, while playing traveling baseball, was known as “iceman.” Regardless of a great play or a lousy play, he controlled his emotions and focused on his next best action to win the game. He “remained in the zone.”
Well, I thought that this time is like that time: 12 months of COVID-19, riots, snowpocalypse, and no inventory to place your buyers in. It has been trying. Yet, you are the leader. You are the one in charge of your response.
A systematic approach to managing the emotional highs and lows that come with high performance and competition can positively impact your results and well-being.
I learned this formula in the military:
- Accept positive emotions and acknowledge negative ones
- Rehearse and prepare for unanticipated situations
- Make logical and accurate situational assessments
- Find the optimal zone
- Remain in the optimal zone
- Seek and find solutions
- Rinse, lather and repeat
David Allen, in his book Getting Things Done: The Art Of Stress-Free Productivity talks about a certain state you can achieve in which you get to do the most important things in a totally relaxed way, with minimal effort. He calls it a “productive state” or staying “in the zone,” and compares it with another similar concept in the world of karate, which defines a position where you’re perfectly ready for anything called: mind like water.
How to achieve that productive state?
Focus on weekly reviews to establish the habit. To do this, block a moment in the week you know you’ll have enough time and quiet. Don’t put them off.
Start by adding to your calendar a recurring task to do a weekly review of all your projects and open loops.
Add to your calendar a quarterly task to review your areas of responsibility. We have a 21-question complete business review. Let me know if you want a copy.
Add a yearly task to think about your medium-term goals.
Being iceman or icewoman can be your superpower. It’s our choice to “stay in the optimal zone.”
#WinTheDay
Mark Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of JP & Associates, a rapidly growing full-service real estate brokerage. He is focused primarily on productivity and service. He has invested nearly 25 years in understanding the inner workings of high-performing real estate agents, teams, managers, and leaders in major markets across the world. In prior assignments, he served as a Business Coach, in progressive leadership capacities for the 5th largest US-based real estate brokerage firm, in sales and marketing leadership capacities for a major consumer goods company, and served a stint in the US Army, Medical Service Corps. He was recalled to active duty during Desert Storm. Mark is a father of 3, a lifelong learner, Spartan, and an adventure athlete. He earned his MBA from California State University and a Behavioral Change Certification from the National Association of Sports Medicine. Several years ago, he decided to make “One Helluva Move” and not play it safe. Since that decision, he has climbed the world’s tallest free-standing mountain — Kilimanjaro; completed the Spartan trifecta, the LA Marathon, and the world-famous Iowa border to border RABGRAI ride, among other crazy adventures.
