Black Belt Productivity

Lead Up Principle #8 in John C. Maxwell’s book The 360° Leader is about becoming a go-to player.

Often you hear people refer to athletes that perform well in the clutch as “go-to players”. This basically means that a player gets the job done when pressure is on. What separates the Michael Jordans, the David Ortizes, the Tiger Woodses and the Ronaldinos of the world from all other athletes?

There is a passion within them that refuses to give in to pressure. They manage to treat pressure packed situations with a calmness and skill that few possess.

For leaders in the middle of an organization, becoming a go-to player can be the difference between a career of mundane low skill work, and a lively career full of opportunity to excel…facing new challenges.

What characteristics make a go-to player?

1. Go-to players produce when the pressure is on.
2. Go-to players produce when the resources are few.
3. Go-to players produce when the momentum is low.
4. Go-to players produce when the load is heavy.
5. Go-to players produce when the leader is absent.
6. Go-to players produce when the time is limited.

Ask yourself if you are a player that steps up and makes things happen when they must. When the chips are down, leaders step up. You will also find out if a person is stepping up to get ahead, or if they are stepping up for the good of the organization.

Be a go-to player in your organization.

- Jason