3 things you should know about performance curves

How to stay ahead of the curve

1 Slow starts
The way you perform in a job is best represented by the letter S. When you first start, progress can be slow until you gain an understanding of how and why things are done in certain ways. How long this learning period lasts varies. With some employers it’s a matter of hours, with others a generous few months. Once it’s over you are expected to improve rapidly – but beware of going too fast. The more steeply you ascend the performance curve, the more you could exhaust yourself.

2 Easy does it
If you are determined to gallop to the top you may find that your only options are to level off or start descending, which could be interpreted as failing. Everyone has times when their development slows – make the most of these. We need quieter interludes where we can capitalise on past experience and consolidate what we have learnt before moving onward and upward. There is nothing wrong with periods of time when you feel comfortable rather than challenged by your work.

3 Spring loaded
Employers need people who have reached level ground. They provide continuity, stability, and a wealth of experience-honed knowledge. Too many people clinging to the dangerous slopes of steep learning and performance curves invite disaster. Knowing you’re on top of your job shouldn’t cause you to feel vulnerable or fossilised. It’s a position which affords a clear view of what else is going on and can provide a springboard to new opportunities.

"Too many people clinging to the dangerous slopes of steep learning and performance curves invite disaster"