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Executive Onboarding

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<strong>Executive</strong> <strong>Onboarding</strong><br />

enough faith in believing that they can fulfil it. High performers<br />

expect to succeed, and therefore, often will. This is because<br />

beliefs determine expectations, and expectations determine<br />

actions. However, by believing in themselves high performers<br />

are willing to take (calculated) risks and accept that they<br />

sometimes will fail. However, the difference between high<br />

performers and average performers is, that when they fail, they<br />

work hard to take corrective actions or limit the effects of their<br />

failure.<br />

In his book “Talent is Never Enough” (Maxwell, 2007) John C.<br />

Maxwell tells a story originally told by Harvey McKay about a<br />

professor who stood before a class of thirty senior molecular<br />

biology students. Before the professor passed out the final<br />

exam paper, he stated, “I have been privileged to be your<br />

instructor this semester and I know how hard you have worked<br />

to prepare for this test. I also know most of you are off to<br />

medical school or graduate school next fall. I am well aware of<br />

how much pressure you are under to keep your GPAs up, and<br />

because I am confident that you know this material, I am<br />

prepared to offer an automatic B to anyone who opts to skip<br />

taking the final exam.” The relief was audible. A number of<br />

students jumped up from their desks, thanking their professor<br />

for the lifeline he had thrown them. “Any other takers?” he<br />

asked. “This is your last opportunity.” One more student<br />

decided to go. The instructor then handed out the final exam,<br />

which consisted of two sentences “Congratulations”, and, “You<br />

have received an A in this class.”<br />

This story is about being rewarded for working hard and<br />

believing in yourself and your potential. In fact, the more you<br />

believe in yourself and your potential, the more you will be able<br />

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