A Daily Dispatch from the Front Lines of Leadership.

al-logo

Start With the Hard Part

If you want to make more progress when mastering a difficult process, game, or activity, consider practicing the hardest part first. There may be a step in a series of actions that is the most difficult. Work to master that step.

Musicians do this by selecting the hardest section in a score and practicing it until it is perfect. Then, they put the pieces together. Athletes do this when practicing difficult chips, reverse layups, lateral passes, vaults and dismounts. They tackle and master the hard part. Then, they execute the routine in its entirety. 

Leaders can become more masterful when tackling the hardest problems, toughest critics, most difficult decisions and most complex analyses. By breaking processes into a series of steps and practicing the hardest steps first, leaders make more progress more quickly.

Sign-up Bonus

Enter your email for instant access to our Admired Leadership Field Notes special guide: Fanness™—An Idea That Will Change the Way You Motivate and Inspire Others.

Inspiring others is among the highest callings of great leaders. But could there be anything you don’t know, you haven’t heard, about how to motivate and inspire?

Could there really be a universal principle that the best leaders follow? A framework that you could follow too?

There is.

Everyone who signs up for Admired Leadership Field Notes will get instant access to our special guide that describes a powerful idea we call Fanness™ (including a special 20-minute video that really brings this idea to life).