When we face a challenge or need to achieve a result, our instinct is to push and try harder, to do more of what we’re use to do, even though it’s obviously not working. 

And then we get frustrated and critical about ourselves.

Somewhere in our “soft” we all have this belief encrypted, that we have to work hard and try harder in order to succeed. Maybe it’s our parents voices running in the back of our minds, or maybe our teacher’s, or whatever reason related to our social, educational or cultural environment. 

And sometimes it works. But sometimes, “harder” it’s just not working. And when we realise it, we have to stop doing it. To stop doing what’s not working. If it’s not working, it won’t work even if we try harder.

What we can do instead, is TRY DIFFERENT. 

Efficiency is not always about working harder or exerting more sheer effort and determination. It’s also about strategy. Sometimes it’s about exploring new paths and approaches, discovering alternative solutions and opportunities which were right in front of us, but we weren’t able to see because we were busy trying harder something that didn’t work.

All it takes is an open mind, curiosity, flexibility and creativity.

Coaching is about finding different perspectives. Leaving the beaten paths from our minds on which we’ve been walking without reaching a solution, finding new paths to take us where we want.

As James Clear said in his book, Atomic Habits, “You’re more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don’t merely try harder, try differently.”