A Day for Book Lovers and Coworkers
It’s Book Lovers Day, which is an excellent excuse for Martin Nicholson to highlight a particular book that epitomises ProAction HR’s values and approach, and our belief in people. It is also International Coworking Day, which is not about celebrating your co-workers per se (you should be doing that every day!), but about the value of sharing a workspace as a coworking community, and the benefits that brings. One such benefit might be spreading the word about ideas and insights that have resonated with you, as this has done with Martin. And as we reach the close of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Martin’s book choice is especially pertinent.
The book I have chosen to highlight is Matthew Syed’s Bounce. I don’t read regularly but have read some of Matthew Syed’s other work. I first picked up Bounce in 2021 and I do tend to go back and listen to aspects from time to time - it is amazing how different elements jump out.
I am an HR Professional and someone who, though having to deal with harsh reality at times, chooses to believe in the power of everyone. Our purpose is to help organisations thrive through the value and uniqueness of their people. It encapsulates who we are and what we do. Frankly, if a piece of work does not fit that purpose, we actively turn it away and point people to other providers. So why does this fit so well with Bounce?
Matthew Syed’s book Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice provides an exploration into the nature of success, it challenges the notion that innate talent is the primary determinant of excellence. Instead, Syed emphasizes the critical role of practice, mindset, and environment in achieving high levels of performance.
Key Themes and Concepts
The Myth of Talent: Syed challenges the traditional belief that success is largely due to inherent talent. He argues that talent is overrated and that dedicated practice and hard work are far more important factors in achieving excellence.
The 10,000-Hour Rule: One of the central concepts in Bounce is the 10,000-hour rule, popularised by Malcolm Gladwell and based on the research of psychologist Anders Ericsson. Syed explains that it typically takes around 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery in any field, from sports to music to business.
Deliberate Practice: Syed delves into the nature of deliberate practice, which is purposeful and systematic, focusing on improving specific aspects of performance. Unlike general practice, deliberate practice involves continuous feedback and a constant push beyond one’s comfort zone.
Mindset: Drawing on the work of psychologist Carol Dweck, Syed discusses the importance of a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. This contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are static and unchangeable.
The Role of Environment: The book highlights the significant influence of environmental factors in shaping success. This includes access to resources, quality coaching, supportive family and community, and opportunities for practice. Syed uses his own experience as a table tennis champion to illustrate how these factors played a crucial role in his development.
Failure and Resilience: Syed underscores the importance of learning from failure and developing resilience. He argues that setbacks are valuable learning experiences that contribute to growth and improvement. Embracing failure as part of the journey to success is a recurring theme in the book.
In short the book matches my view that you can be great at anything you choose to be, given the right environment, through effort, perseverance, and the right mindset.
Adapting this to your organisation, what is your purpose? How can you strive to perform consistently and at the highest levels? Performance management isn’t a dirty word - effectively helping people be great at what they do should be the role of every manager and leader.
If you want to know more about creating greatness in your workplace and how to inspire your business to bounce then please get in touch for a FREE discovery call.
Martin Nicholson is the Managing Consultant at ProAction HR, providing Human Resources Services to SME businesses in Southampton, Winchester and throughout Hampshire and the adjoining counties.
Co-founder of the Winchester-based HR company, Martin and his team support clients across Hampshire and neighbouring counties, providing HR advice, HR consultancy, and HR services. They cover a broad range of HR solutions, from one-off responsive HR support to a full Human Resources service, along with Learning & Development, Training and Change Management.
“Helping organisations to thrive on the value & uniqueness of their people.”
