Do you often start your week up and running and achieve what you‘ve set out to accomplish? If so, good for you. Or… are you often beyond stressed out with one uphill struggle after another?

Either way read on…

I’ve taught hundreds of drum students over the years from airline pilots to lawyers, mature weekend warriors to young guns seriously intent on ‘ruling the world’. As such, I’ve learned a thing or two about human behaviour.

I’ve observed how people react under pressure. Consequently, I’ve devised various methods on how to get the best performance out of not just individuals, but groups as well. This includes myself, because if something has not worked for me, then I’m not going to recommend it.  This is the underlying principle and approach that drives Voros Performance.

I have here a golden nugget that I’d like to share with you and which has worked successfully for those who have tried it.

I call it “The 5% Rule”.

Many times in a lesson I would see a student struggling through something I’ve set them to work on: their body full of tension with equal amounts of pained concentration and frustration on their face. Basically, getting nowhere fast.  When anyone is in this state, the law of diminishing returns rapidly kicks in and leads to only one thing, a ‘cycle of anxiety’… did I mention frustration?

It’s at this point that something has to change. I would calmly ask them to put the sticks down and listen to these words: “Take a deep breath and relax. Take another deep breath. Better? Great! Now… do exactly what you’ve been doing, but this time, with “5% less effort”.

Initial responses to this might draw a puzzled look, but many got it right away. The result? On attempting to play what they had struggled with before, almost always the result was hugely positive and better. Why? Because those three words “5% less effort” somehow managed to take the edge off.

You see we’ve been conditioned to always give 100% (even 110%). So while this is admirable, it can also lead to breakdowns in multiple ways – especially when you’re challenged with something you’re not familiar with. It’s also a recipe for burnout.

So be easy on yourself.

If you’re stressed and going through a tough time, why not do exactly what you’re doing right now, but with “5% Less Effort”. What have you got to lose? Importantly, the word effort can be replaced with haste, tension, speed, whatever. Tailor it to your situation.

Photo: pexels- Andrea Piacquadio

Georg Voros is a Performance Consultant with 45+ years of top-level experience and author of two books on performance. He delivers high-impact workshops on productivity and flow, and offers tailored mentoring packages to support personal growth and achievement. Learn more at www.vorosperformance.co.uk