10 Unique Traits of High Performers
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” -James Clear from Atomic Habits
Clarityin Chaos
Bias for Action
ExtremeOwnership
Curiosity over Ego
Reflective and relentless
Energy Protectors
Mission Driven
Relentlessly Resourceful
10
Always Coachable
consistently Visible
Mission-Driven
Let purpose guide choices.
Purpose fuels endurance. High performers filter decisions through alignment with mission and values. Example: A director funds a project that best serves long-term community goals, not popularity.
Reflection: Which of your current tasks truly moves the mission forward?
Always Coachable
View feedback as fuel.
Growth requires humility. High performers invite challenge and act on input quickly. Example: After receiving feedback, a teammate applies it immediately and follows up for refinement.
Reflection: Who could you ask for honest feedback this week?
Consistently Visible
Show your work and share progress.
Visibility creates accountability. High performers communicate wins and lessons to inspire trust. Example: An employee sends a weekly update to highlight wins and next steps.
Reflection: Who could benefit from seeing your progress this week?
Bias for Action
Move before conditions are perfect.
Momentum builds confidence. High performers act on what they know, learn from the results, and adjust quickly Example: A coordinator launches a test version to gather feedback early instead of waiting for a flawless rollout.
Reflection: What’s one step you can take today to make visible progress?
Energy Protectors
Guard your energy like a resource.
Energy drives performance. High performers know when to push and when to pause. Example: A leader blocks deep work time each morning and avoids late-day meetings to protect focus.
Reflection: Think of one area where you can lead without being asked.
Curiosity Over Ego
Choose learning over being right.
Curiosity fuels growth. High performers ask questions even when they think they know the answer. Example: You can ask an employee, “Can you walk me through your approach?” to learn from another perspective.
Reflection: What’s one question you can ask in your next meeting?
Clarity Over Chaos
Simplify what others overcomplicate
Clarity enables teams to focus their energy on execution rather than confusion. It’s not about doing less, it’s about defining what truly matters. Example: A team lead condenses a complex update into one clear objective: “Our goal this week is to finalize the client prototype.”
Reflection: When was the last time you clarified something for others instead of adding complexity?
Reflective and Relentless
Improve by design, not by accident.
Consistent reflection leads to growth. High performers schedule time to learn from experience. Example: Every Friday, a professional reviews what worked and adjusts for the coming week.
Reflection: What will you adjust next week based on what you learned?
Extreme Ownership
Own the outcome, not just the task
Ownership builds credibility. High performers see results as their responsibility and act accordingly. Example: A manager accepts responsibility for a delay and adjusts systems to prevent it next time.
Reflection: Think of one area where you can lead without being asked.
Relentlessly Resourceful
Never stop at “I don’t know.”
Resourcefulness is persistence plus creativity. High performers look for answers before asking for help. Example: A staff member researches tutorials before reaching out for help.
Reflection: When did you last find a solution without waiting for direction?
10 Unique Traits of High Performers
Matt Kurtz
Created on October 22, 2025
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Transcript
10 Unique Traits of High Performers
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” -James Clear from Atomic Habits
Clarityin Chaos
Bias for Action
ExtremeOwnership
Curiosity over Ego
Reflective and relentless
Energy Protectors
Mission Driven
Relentlessly Resourceful
10
Always Coachable
consistently Visible
Mission-Driven
Let purpose guide choices.
Purpose fuels endurance. High performers filter decisions through alignment with mission and values. Example: A director funds a project that best serves long-term community goals, not popularity.
Reflection: Which of your current tasks truly moves the mission forward?
Always Coachable
View feedback as fuel.
Growth requires humility. High performers invite challenge and act on input quickly. Example: After receiving feedback, a teammate applies it immediately and follows up for refinement.
Reflection: Who could you ask for honest feedback this week?
Consistently Visible
Show your work and share progress.
Visibility creates accountability. High performers communicate wins and lessons to inspire trust. Example: An employee sends a weekly update to highlight wins and next steps.
Reflection: Who could benefit from seeing your progress this week?
Bias for Action
Move before conditions are perfect.
Momentum builds confidence. High performers act on what they know, learn from the results, and adjust quickly Example: A coordinator launches a test version to gather feedback early instead of waiting for a flawless rollout.
Reflection: What’s one step you can take today to make visible progress?
Energy Protectors
Guard your energy like a resource.
Energy drives performance. High performers know when to push and when to pause. Example: A leader blocks deep work time each morning and avoids late-day meetings to protect focus.
Reflection: Think of one area where you can lead without being asked.
Curiosity Over Ego
Choose learning over being right.
Curiosity fuels growth. High performers ask questions even when they think they know the answer. Example: You can ask an employee, “Can you walk me through your approach?” to learn from another perspective.
Reflection: What’s one question you can ask in your next meeting?
Clarity Over Chaos
Simplify what others overcomplicate
Clarity enables teams to focus their energy on execution rather than confusion. It’s not about doing less, it’s about defining what truly matters. Example: A team lead condenses a complex update into one clear objective: “Our goal this week is to finalize the client prototype.”
Reflection: When was the last time you clarified something for others instead of adding complexity?
Reflective and Relentless
Improve by design, not by accident.
Consistent reflection leads to growth. High performers schedule time to learn from experience. Example: Every Friday, a professional reviews what worked and adjusts for the coming week.
Reflection: What will you adjust next week based on what you learned?
Extreme Ownership
Own the outcome, not just the task
Ownership builds credibility. High performers see results as their responsibility and act accordingly. Example: A manager accepts responsibility for a delay and adjusts systems to prevent it next time.
Reflection: Think of one area where you can lead without being asked.
Relentlessly Resourceful
Never stop at “I don’t know.”
Resourcefulness is persistence plus creativity. High performers look for answers before asking for help. Example: A staff member researches tutorials before reaching out for help.
Reflection: When did you last find a solution without waiting for direction?