Discovering Your Green State for Peak Performance

Last week, I wrote about hitting the red. This week, I want to focus on the green. What does it look at feel like when you’re at your best? The answer, as it turns out, depends on the situation.

Green means go

In my initial post on this topic, I briefly described the green as your best self, your flow state, your peak performance. I also said that it looks different depending on the context.

So this time, I wanted to dive a bit more into this topic, and maybe get you to think of your own different green states.

Understanding context

In his book “The End of Average,” Todd Rose (no relation) discusses the concept of ‘jaggedness.’ It’s not enough to simply define someone on a given parameter, without also looking at context.

For example, a teenager might generally trend toward introversion, but will be more introverted in their high school cafeteria while being extraverted in a small family setting.

This type of variance in personality traits based on the context creates a profile that is jagged.

Why is this important? Because not only is the typical description of a person’s green state not necessarily your reality, but your green state is also likely to be jagged and vary based on the circumstances.

Understanding your different greens

In my post last week I talked about hitting the red, not as a coach, or as a husband or father, but as a human being. Without really realizing it, I’d stumbled on an important truth.

Each of the roles I listed are different aspects of who I am and subject to different contexts and conditions. My role as a dad is very different from my role as a national team coach. While there is some crossover, the conditions of peak performance are different.

Peak Coach is not dancing in the hotel lobby with my athletes to children’s music. Peak Dad is not analyzing the competition environment while watching my kids play soccer.

What role are you playing?

Your green state at work is likely to be different from what your green state looks like at home, or in a competitive environment.

Where a lot of mindset and mental advice gets it wrong is not accounting for these contextual differences. Sure, we recognize that we’re all different. But we also need to recognize the differences within ourselves.

Even within a given context – let’s say work – you’ve got different roles that you play. At times you might be more of a leader or mentor, at times you’re strategic and other times it’s all about executing tasks.

Each one of those is likely to have a different green state.

Will there be overlap? Absolutely.

Will there also be slight differences? Yep.

It’s also why some tasks feel easier on some days, and harder on others. On a day where you’re in the green as a leader, you might be more in the yellow for executing administrative tasks.

Identifying your green(s)

Think about your best self in whatever role you want to start. Alternatively, adopt a more general approach and just think of moments where you were at your best.

What does your green look like? Think about your body language, facial expressions, how you’re dressed. Even the smallest details matter, like whether or not you’re sitting or standing at your desk at work.

What does your green sound like? How are you speaking, including the words and tone? What other sounds are in the environment, such as music or chatter or dead silence?

What does your green feel like? Use simple words to describe the feelings associated with being at your best. Athletes might use words like present, or confident, or calm. As a dad, I know I’m in the green when I feel patient and present.

This is just the first step. But it is the most important. If you want to get into the green more often (and on purpose) you need to know your green state actually is.