81 – How First Principles Guide and Impact Successful Partnerships – Part One.

Part One of An Amazing Interview with Dr. Michael Gervais.

My extraordinary guest and special gift at the end of this very different year is to share a pretty incredible conversation with someone I respect and hold in very high regard, Dr. Michael Gervais.

Dr. Michael Gervais is a world-renowned high-performance psychologist and industry visionary. Over 20 years working with world-leading performers, Dr. Gervais has developed a psychological framework that allows people to thrive in pressure-packed environments. His clientele consists of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, countless Olympic medalists, MVPs from every major sport, world record holders, internationally acclaimed music artists, and corporate leaders. 

Dr. Gervais is the host of the popular Finding Mastery podcast that explores the psychology of some of the world's most extraordinary thinkers and doers. Past guests range from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to best-selling author Brene Brown and NBA coach Steve Kerr.  

Dr. Gervais and NFL coach Pete Carroll founded Compete to Create, an online and live master class for the mind. They have worked with more than 30,000 employees at Microsoft alone on the mental skills and strategies to unleash one's potential.

While at Microsoft, I was privileged to be part of one of the first teams to work with Michael to apply his work and first principles to the world of business organizations.

I invited Michael to the podcast because I am a student and have recognized that many of the fundamentals and principles that he teaches specifically apply to and are "first principles" of successful partnering.

There is a lot to unpack in this two-part conversation. I hope you listen as Michael's insights apply to both our business and personal development, including:

His work, journey, the spark, and his belief system.His work with Microsoft's Leadership Team, featured in Satya's Book, Hit Refresh.How the fundamentals and principles he teaches directly apply as the first principles of successful partnering.Personal Philosophy, Mindfulness, and other core principles from his Compete to Create Workshops and Audible Book.

HIS WORK, JOURNEY, THE SPARK, AND HIS BELIEFS 

HIS WORK  – Standing on the shoulders of giants, studying the science of excellence, sometimes innovating and helping others make sense of the world.HIS JOURNEY - As a kid, just trying to figure it out and how coming from pain, boredom, and anxiety led him on the path.HIS BELIEF –"Everything you need is already inside you."

WORKING WITH SATYA'S LEADERSHIP TEAM

SETTING THE TONE - Getting the leaders in the room to clarify commitment to Microsoft's audacious vision and to better know the people and get to the truth. MINDSET -  A particular way you are approaching something. To perform under stress, you need to train the mind.EMPATHY - One of Microsoft's backbone principles, how do you practice empathy, you need awareness. You don't wait to practice empathy; you front-load it.

HOW HIS WORK APPLIES TO THE PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERING 

COACHING GROWTH MINDSET IN PARTNERSHIPS - Mindset matters, as does human capital.HOW HE HELPS ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP A COMPELLING VISION - it needs to be true, and there needs to be consistency, applying core principles to guide it.CREATING A SHARED VISION - See the brilliance in others, clarify and hold people to the set of standards to which we will hold ourselves.WHEN PARTNERSHIPS DON'T GO RIGHT- We need to be authentic and assess both accelerants and blockers. When we overestimated skills, there is tension. OTHER PRACTICES FROM HIS WORK - The importance of defining a "Personal Philosophy" and articulating first principles. We need to develop mental skills like we develop physical skills. Why knowing each other's Personal Philosophy helps us "lock arms" in Partnership.

MORE FROM HIS TEACHINGS 

THE FIVE FACTORS FROM MICHAEL'S WORK - Self-discovery, psychological skills, psychological framework,