These expert performance strategies can help you get on the road to the top.  

Do you long for the financial acumen of a Warren Buffett, the presentation ability of a Steve Jobs, the magnetism of an Oprah Winfrey, or the golf swing of a Tiger Woods? Have you ever wished that you too had been born with advantages that would lead you to success in your chosen field?

Well think again.

Researchers in Expert Performance Psychology have found that no one is “born great.” Over 20 years of data suggest that there’s no significant inborn difference at all between average and top performers in any field. The only exceptions the researchers found were in a few sports, like basketball, where physical size offers you a competitive edge.

While top performers may not have any inborn advantages, there are some significant differences that distinguish leaders in their fields from everyone else.

Top performers put in more practice than average people, they practice strategically, and they seek out feedback and coaching to make them even better.

The good news is that by adopting these expert performance strategies and habits, you too can put yourself on the road to leadership. Here’s how to get started.

1.  Focus on What Matters.
You don’t have the time or energy to do everything well. Identify your key tasks – the ones that have the greatest impact on the goals you want to achieve. Focus as much attention as possible on them, eliminating, delegating or deferring as many non-essential tasks as you can.

2.  Optimize Your Actions for Better Results.
Instead of trying to simply complete important activities and cross them off your list, aim for better results each time. Ask yourself if there’s a better way. How can you save time, save money or achieve better results?For example, if one of your major tasks is sales presentations, was your last presentation better than the previous one? Did you improve your delivery, give better information in less time, offer more compelling visuals, make more sales?

3.  Practice Frequently and Strategically.
Ronald Reagan, the “great communicator,” didn’t stumble accidentally on speaking success. Early in his career, while working as a spokesman for General Electric, he found that his talks weren’t getting the response he wanted. Reagan spent hours and hours working on his delivery in order to connect better with his listeners. By the end of his contract with GE, people were complimenting his ability, and suggesting that he run for political office.

While frequent practice is essential for mastery of any skill, how you practice is just as important.To become the best, you can’t just go through the motions when you practice, you need to have goals for each practice session.

Instead of mindlessly running through your presentation, focus on delivering a better one, even if no one’s listening.Consistently striving to do better each time, even when it’s “just practice” will create new mental patterns and cement these higher levels of performance as habits.

4.  Get Feedback.
You may think you gave the best presentation ever, but what does your boss think? How about the heads of other departments?

Most people avoid criticism and don’t seek feedback. But top performers welcome assessments and coaching, knowing that without them, they won’t continue to improve.

5.  Never Stop Stretching.
Getting better requires stretching beyond what comes easily. While most of us are happy to practice the things we’re already good at, top performers know that if they stop to rest on their laurels, they’re destined to remain at less than their best.

In the late 1990s, Tiger Woods recognized that the skills that had brought him early success and worldwide recognition weren’t enough to take him where he wanted to go. He hired a new coach and began to rebuild his swing. The natural slump that followed brought public criticism and decreased support, but Tiger’s perseverance clearly paid off. He’s now on track to surpass the records of history’s greatest golfers.

The only things standing between you and your goals are your determination to achieve them, and the strategy you use to build your ability.

Put these steps into practice, aim for consistent and never-ending improvement, and we guarantee you’ll see higher levels of performance more rapidly than you’ve ever imagined.

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