S11 E4 'How to master high performance thinking'

The Business of Being Brilliant podcast

S11 E4: 'How to master high performance thinking'
with Agnes Cserhati

Monday 2 March 2026

About this episode

What does it really take to think, lead, and perform at your absolute best — not just once, but consistently? In this episode, I explore the mindset and habits that define true high performance. With my guest, I unpack how to build a high-performance culture, the difference between achievement and performance, and why unlearning might be the real key to moving forward. We also look at challenges such as leadership isolation, self-leadership mastery, and discovering your own leadership superpower.

Joining me is Agnes Cserhati, an internationally renowned speaker, author, and leadership expert, featured in Forbes, The Guardian, and the BBC. She is the founder of AC PowerCoaching, CEO of The Performance Advantage Club, host of The Performance Advantage Talk, award-winning entrepreneur, and author of The Performance Advantage, who has helped leaders in over 100 countries reach and sustain peak performance.

Preview clip

Perspectives from Agnes

On achievement vs performance

It's like running a marathon: if I can run a marathon once, it's fantastic. But running it once, it doesn't make me a marathon runner. What would make me a marathon runner is if I am able to perform at that level consistently all the time.

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On burnout

We would have significantly less burnout if we focused on performance rather than on achievement. It doesn't mean we're not achieving; it means what are you, what am I, able to consistently achieve?

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On change

If you want to make any change in your life, in your team, in your organization, you have to start with thinking because your thinking drives your feelings and your behaviour. The behaviour is just the outcome.

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Show notes

Find out more about Agnes’ speaking, training and coaching here: https://www.agnescserhati.com/

Follow Agnes on Linked In here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnescserhati/ and on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/agnes_cserhati/.

Buy Agnes’ book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Performance-Advantage-success-principles-executive/dp/191548331X/

Agnes’ YouTube talk on The Performance Advantage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=_2U5oa5LmEDXdCUr&v=XrHhu3OwfgA&feature=youtu.be

Order Helen’s new business book, the Amazon Bestseller People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free. Help others to discover it too by leaving a book review and/or rating here.

Download free retention tools from Helen’s website here, including the Freedom Index and 8 ways to diagnose your retention risks.

Listen to Helen’s special podcast episode about People Glue with guest host, CEO and tech entrepreneur Jen Sundberg.

Discover Helen’s award-winning first business book The Future of Time: how ‘re-working’ time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing. Browse the reviews or rate it/post your own review here.

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The Business of Being Brilliant podcast