The science of high-performing leadership: Unleashing your potential in the AI era

Leadership is at a pivotal point in time—balancing the demands of high performance while navigating the complexities of the AI era. The Work Innovation Lab by Asana, in collaboration with Greg Wells, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Wells Performance, embarked on a comprehensive study of 6,000 high-performing executives and leaders from the world’s top companies. What we discovered is a science-backed approach to leadership that goes beyond innate talent or working harder—it’s about working smarter.

The research unveils that the secret to high performance lies not in multitasking or constant hustle, but rather in focusing on one task at a time, establishing clear structures, and maintaining mental fitness. The research suggests that guarding attention, structuring work, and prioritizing mental fitness are the true keys to success in leadership roles.

The full report reveals data-backed strategies to transform anyone into a high-performing leader, identifies common daily challenges and stressors leaders face, and provides insights on how top-performing leaders are addressing these issues. Additionally, the research delves into how leaders can harness the power of AI to supercharge their leadership.

Here are some key learnings from the research:

Guarding Attention, Structuring Work, And Prioritizing Mental Fitness: Some leaders may think that multitasking or constant hustle is the key to success. But our research found that the secret to high performance lies in focusing on one task at a time, establishing clear structures, and maintaining mental fitness.

Harnessing The Power Of AI To Supercharge Leadership: In the era of AI, leadership potential is limitless. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s an ally in becoming a high-performing leader. It can help leaders block off distractions and align work with ultradian rhythms. But using AI isn’t about adding more tools to your tech stack—it’s about leveraging the right tools to enhance your leadership capabilities.

The Art of Single Tasking: In archery, athletes are trained to focus on one thing at a time - the target. Research has shown that elite archers maintain a longer and more stable gaze on the target, which significantly improves their performance. Similarly, high-performing leaders focus their attention on one task at a time. Our study found a strong correlation between leaders who could focus effectively on one task before moving on to the next and those who met or exceeded their performance expectations.

Mastering the Shield Against Distractions: Research has shown that successful free throw shooting in basketball is associated with a consistent routine and focused attention. Players often use a technique called "quiet eye," where they focus their gaze on the basket for a few seconds before shooting. This helps them block out distractions and focus on the task at hand. Leaders must do the same, crafting a shield against distractions. Our research found a strong correlation between leaders who could block out distractions and those who could maintain their attention effectively on one task.

Dancing to the Rhythm of Ultradian Cycles: Esteemed expert performance researcher, K. Anders Ericsson, discovered that top violinists synchronize their tasks with their natural energy patterns, known as ultradian rhythms. They concentrate on their most demanding work in the mornings when their energy is at its peak, working in focused, short intervals of no more than 90 minutes, followed by a break. This strategy enhances productivity. Our research revealed that high-performing leaders often adopt a similar rhythm, aligning their most mentally taxing activities with their highest energy levels and scheduling less demanding tasks during their low-energy periods. Increasingly, they are leveraging AI tools to handle work during those low-energy moments, further optimizing their productivity."

Flexing mental fitness: Athletes understand the importance of mental health in their performance. Just as athletes recognize the crucial role of mental health in their performance, high-performing leaders understand its impact on their ability to focus and exceed performance expectations. Our research found a strong correlation between improved mental health and leaders' ability to focus, underscoring its significant role in meeting or exceeding performance expectations. Borrowing a simple technique from the world of athletics can be transformative. Consider ending your morning shower with a thirty-second burst of cold water. This cold exposure can trigger an increase in beta-endorphins, inducing feelings of euphoria and reducing stress-related brain activity.

The secret to high performance isn't a secret at all. It's about working smarter, not harder, and it's grounded in science. As we lace up our shoes for the marathon of leadership, remember, we're not just running the race, we're redefining the finish line.