#ceodiaries

Currently reading the 4 Disciples of Execution by authors Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, Sean Covey as part of my personal study in my growing role in our startup. I haven't gotten to the meat yet. But reading the quick run-through of the 4 disciplines does things to me.

I am particularly attracted to the 3rd discipline which is the Discipline of Engagement which is best described as "keeping score". Not to belittle the other disciplines as they need to co-exist with each other. But in all honestly, this particular topic is a breath of fresh air and an eye-opener for me personally.

It says and I quote,

"the highest level of performance always comes from people who are emotionally engaged and the highest level of engagement comes from knowing the score—that is, if people know whether they are winning or losing".

Then the illustration is that of someone who is playing a game of basketball or any type of sport. The gameplay changes when the scoring starts. When players are aware of the score, they play differently. And if they're not aware, there's also a significant difference in the way they play.

As someone who loves sports, I totally understand this concept. But I never understood what "playing to win" really means, until that is, I read this book.

I thought playing to win means getting ahead of your competitors and do whatever it takes - including trash-talking - in order to bring home the prize.

But then I realize where the true competition is - it's not out there - it's within. Competition is about being personally engaged with the score enough to be in step with it until you see yourself winning.

I need to be engaged with the score, not with the other players. Measurements are there in order to tell me if I'm engaged with the score or not. It's not about them, it's about me, my team, my company, my business.

The reality of sports is that whoever wins is the one who is most engaged with the score and creates the necessary adjustments in order to be in step with the score and advance it just enough to get ahead with whoever it is they're playing with.

That's the science and the art of it.

It's not about getting ahead. It's about being engaged.

Looking back, now I realized why I was always winning 2nd place in my Extemporaneous Speaking Competitions instead of 1st. Or why I was not the 1st in our class when I have the capacity to be one.

I was afraid of keeping score. I was afraid to be engaged in whatever it is I'm doing. But that changes today.

If life is a game, then I need to play. If it is a game, I need to keep score. The same goes for everything else in life. If we want to execute properly, look at it as a game.

Play it and keep scores. Do the science and the art of it.