Johan Khalilian is a speaker, author and leadership coach who inspires individuals to defy limitations and live with bold purpose.
“I want to win the MVP award next season.” “I want to increase revenue by $100 million.” “I want our team to win the World Series.”
These are visions my clients have communicated to me. They say it with conviction and passion. These are things they really, really want. Most of us want to achieve seemingly impossible things with our natural strengths, gifts and talents. The question is: Are you willing to grow in order to achieve your vision? Put another way, if you’re going to do what you’ve never done before, you need to be who you’ve never been before.
Two Types Of Results: Natural And Transformational
In my line of work, I get to witness the power of mindset and personal transformation. Results are king in sports and the corporate world. But what if I told you that there are two types of results? Natural results and transformational results.
Natural results are the outcomes that come from simply being yourself. Natural results are the product of your innate abilities, talents and physical attributes. For example, a basketball player who is naturally tall will have an advantage in rebounding and blocking shots. A sprinter who has fast-twitch muscle fibers will excel in short-distance races. My wife tells me I have a gift for leaving the dishes in the sink longer than she’d like. What can I say? I was born that way.
But what happens when your natural abilities don’t help you get what you want? What happens when you know how to score lots of points, but you don’t know how to become an MVP? Or what happens when you know how to win but you don’t know how to help people around you get better so you can win?
This is where transformational results come in. Transformational results are the outcomes derived from intentional effort and personal growth. Leaders who embrace the idea of transformational results are constantly seeking ways to improve. They’re willing to put in the time and effort to develop new skills, improve their weaknesses and overcome mental barriers. They understand that true success comes not just from what they were born with, but from what they are willing to work for and who they’re willing to become.
Take Serena Williams, for example. Despite facing racism and sexism throughout her career, Williams has become one of the most successful tennis players in history. Not female tennis players. Tennis players. Period. She won 23 Grand Slam titles and continued to dominate the sport well into her thirties. Williams has credited her success to her mental toughness and her ability to stay focused and motivated even in the face of adversity.
So, what does this mean for you? It means that natural ability alone will not help you achieve greatness. I want you to read that again: Natural ability alone will not help you achieve greatness. In order to truly reach your potential, you must be willing to put in the work and embrace the idea of transformational results.
How To Transform Your Mindset
As a coach, I work with top-tier athletes and executives who feel stuck or seek growth beyond their current success. They may have hit a plateau, are trying to develop leadership skills or they excel in their field but don’t know how to get to the next level. I help them embrace transformational results by identifying areas for improvement, setting goals and creating a plan—celebrating every step forward. If this sounds familiar, here are some practical ways you can move forward, too:
Consider your strengths.
Think about what you already naturally excel at, then ask yourself: Is it possible I am relying too much on my strengths? Write down three professional situations where you defaulted to what you are good at rather than evolving into who you need to be.
Seek additional feedback.
Find a coach, mentor or peer who can help you identify areas of growth you might be blind to. Schedule regular feedback sessions and discuss ways you can work on the areas they’ve highlighted.
Commit to a “transformation sprint.”
Over the next 90 days, choose one behavior, mindset or skill you need to evolve, set measurable milestones and track your progress. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but through consistent hard work and habit building, you can achieve your goals.
I love what I get to do for so many reasons, but there’s nothing like getting that phone call from one of my players and hearing them say, “Jo, we did it, and I feel like a totally different person.” That’s the power of transformation.
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