Craig Simpson’s Presentation “Leadership Lessons from Winning Organizations”

January 13, 2011

In what was clearly a candid, thoughtful and well prepared presentation by Craig Simpson, two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Edmonton Oilers and current CBC broadcaster, several great stories were shared providing insights that seemed to resonate strongly with his audience at the Toronto Board of Trade ballroom.

One of Craig’s great stories spoke strongly about understanding and achieving your own, personal peak level of performance.  After a strenuous training camp followed by another exhausting NHL regular season, Craig’s play reached what he considered to be its peak during the Oilers’ incredible post-season run to the Stanley Cup finals where he led all scorers for the playoffs.  Perhaps the greatest surprise during the presentation, and a great lesson to take away from Craig’s experience was that feeling of not wanting things to end.

“We had won the Stanley Cup, our goal was attained and I had played my absolute best.  I was happy for our team and for what we accomplished.  However, for me personally I was actually sad!  I did not want to stop playing because I knew that I may never reach that level of play ever again – my own peak level was reached and I desperately wanted to hang on to it.”

Everyone has their own personal level of performance.  The challenge is to find a way to reach your absolute peak when things matter the most, as Craig clearly did in that magical playoff run.  In business as in sports, there are ebbs and flows to one’s own personal level of performance.  Finding a way to achieve your own personal apex is an enormous challenge, but being able to maintain it for long stretches is perhaps even more difficult!