Book review: High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best by Jake Humphrey and Prof Damian Hughes published by Penguin.
This was our Book Club read in March 2023 and we loved it. The book has much in common with the podcast of the same name.
The book comprises a series of eight lessons covering High Performance Mindset, Behaviour and Teams. The authors share their personal experiences, including mistakes as well as some case studies from well known people including sports stars and business leaders. The content is well supported by academic research and learning from other personal development books, including several read by the Fabulous Book Club.
The style is very readable and the text is well broken up by subheadings, boxed text and graphics. Every lesson has its own summary and the final chapter pulls all the elements of the book together.
My key takeaways
- True motivation involves autonomy where our behaviour aligns with our values
- We need to be able to employ correct thinking under pressure. This means not allowing ourselves to be distracted by circumstances or other people’s actions
- Great leaders don’t micro manage… they ensure that everyone is aware of the non-negotiables and commits to them
- Invest in our own ‘confidence bank’. Recognise our own and our business’ strengths. Capture the nice things people say about us to refer to when we need a confidence boost.
- Play to our strengths
- The best cultures are where people feel ‘safe, valued and respected’
Would I recommend this book?
Undoubtedly yes! It’s an inspiring and uplifting read and I’m sure I will return to the book from time to time in the future.