mastery

Standing at the gate

When you dare to be different, you create the possibility of finding your tribe. There is a difference between being able to make people laugh and being a comedian. Between being able to cut hair and being a barber. Between being able to cook a meal and being a chef. The difference is mastery of the craft. There is a sweet science to becoming really good at what you do. I think it comes from learning, practising, experimenting, making mistakes, paying attention and dedicating yourself to the craft over time.

Being different may get you noticed, and when you master your craft, it will give people a reason to remember you. And somewhere on that journey, you may discover that the people who appreciate what makes you different are often the people you were looking for all along.

The 20 hour rule

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There is a distinction between competence and mastery. I think achieving world-class performance may require thousands of hours whilst reaching functional competence does not. Approximately 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice is often enough to move from zero to capable. The barrier for most people is not ability, it is the perception that the investment required is too high. Therefore, by reducing the threshold to the first 20 hours makes skill acquisition accessible and actionable. What do you think?

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Mastering the mind

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Zyanya Citlalli ©

In a world of constant change, uncertainty, and pressure to perform, grounded leadership requires more than just technical skill or vision. It requires deep inner work and a commitment to something bigger than yourself.

I often encourage the leaders I coach to focus on two things:
1. Mastering the mind
2. Serving others

Mastering the mind isn’t just about mental sharpness, it’s about emotional discipline. Leadership will inevitably trigger moments of envy, ego, impatience, or self-doubt. The real challenge is learning to observe those emotions without letting them drive your decisions. I think mastery means developing the inner resilience to choose clarity over chaos, humility over pride, and purpose over impulse. It’s not about perfection, it’s about awareness, regulation, and growth. What do you think?

Do your best

I think in a remote working environment, autonomy, mastery and purpose helps to replace managerial control with empowered self-control. Nowadays, everyone has the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills. As a leader, it is your duty to offer your employees the opportunity to master new skills. Overcoming challenges and acquiring mastery is a satisfying part of the human experience, whether it’s related to your work or not. Everyone wants more money; in my experience salary is rarely the main motivator for excellent performance.

Working from home

Working from home is not a new phenomenon but due to the Covid-19 pandemic it has become the new normal for most employees. It’s more than likely that many of you have been or will be working remotely for the foreseeable future, so it’s imperative to distinguish between private and professional life at home. As employees are the key drivers for all businesses, companies, and organisations, hopefully your boss sent you home with more than just your laptop. 

 

In a remote working model, autonomy, mastery and purpose will help leaders to replace control with empowered self-control. Leaders and managers should focus on empowering and motivating their teams by establishing clear goals and boundaries for each member of their team and allow them freedom to operate within these boundaries. I think leaders and managers should concede control and enhance motivation by trusting employees to work in ways that suits them best.