Peak Performance

Peak Performance: Aligning the Hearts and Minds of Your Employees

By Jon R. Katzenbach

About the Author

Jon R. Katzenbach is a Senior Partner at Katzenbach Partners LLC and a former principal and director with McKinsey & Company, Inc. He has authored numerous books on leadership, teams, and workforce performance. His bestseller, The Wisdom of Teams, co-authored with Douglas K. Smith, was highly acclaimed. Katzenbach's extensive experience and deep insights into organizational behavior make him a leading authority on creating high-performing workforces.

Main Idea

"Peak Performance" explores how companies can develop their workforce into a peak-performance team by balancing employee fulfillment needs with enterprise performance requirements. Katzenbach identifies five distinct paths to achieving this balance: Mission, Values and Pride; Process and Metrics; Entrepreneurial Spirit; Individual Achievement; and Recognition and Celebration. Each path leverages different sources of emotional energy to drive performance and commitment among employees.

Table of Contents

1. Mission, Values and Pride Path
2. Process and Metrics Path
3. Entrepreneurial Spirit Path
4. Individual Achievement Path
5. Recognition and Celebration Path

Mission, Values and Pride Path

This path leverages an organization's legacy of accomplishment, strong corporate values, and a noble mission to energize employees. It fosters a sense of pride and belonging, aligning individual interests with the company's goals.

"The U.S. Marine Corps exemplifies the power of a noble purpose and core values in achieving peak performance." - Jon R. Katzenbach

• Distributing Leadership Broadly: Developing superior leaders at all levels.
• Articulating What Matters Most: Instilling core values from the very beginning.
• Spreading and Regenerating Collective Energy: Energizing new recruits through role models and achievements.

For example, the U.S. Marine Corps taps into its 200-year history of defending American values, using this legacy to inspire and motivate its members. The Corps distributes leadership broadly, instills core values from the start, and regenerates energy through continuous recognition of individual and team achievements.

Another company following the Mission, Values and Pride path is 3M. Known for its innovation, 3M encourages employees to exercise initiative and take ownership of their projects. The invention of Post-it Notes is a prime example of 3M's culture of innovation and employee empowerment. By fostering a sense of pride in their contributions and aligning their efforts with the company's mission, 3M employees are highly motivated to achieve peak performance.

Process and Metrics Path

This path focuses on accountability, performance measurement, and continuous improvement. Companies following this path set clear performance goals and track metrics to ensure alignment with business objectives.

"At Avon, precise standards and public performance metrics drive high performance in manufacturing." - Jon R. Katzenbach