Background
Most major organizations in the U.S., Europe and Asia are in the grip of continuous change and transformation as they perpetually attempt to adapt to the most complex working environment in history. For some people this rapidly changing "new-world" is challenging and stimulating; to many it is extremely demanding. Performance in such a demanding environment is often achieved at the cost of

• impaired work—life balance or
• increased stress and its impact on our well being.

Numerous scientific studies have shown that the pressure to perform in this changing world directly impacts the internal physiological processes of individuals. This impact upon the internal processes can often undermine performance, reduce perceptual clarity and cause a loss of innovation at just the time when these abilities are most needed.

Fortunately, in the last five years, leading edge research by neuroscientists, cardiologists and system theorists has identified the internal conditions that are required to flourish in the midst of change and therefore succeed in complex and competitive markets.

The Peak Performance Programme
The Peak Performance programme is offered to European-based companies based upon this cutting edge research. It teaches a number of techniques that allow people to consciously alter the quality of the internal electrical signals sent to the brain. Changing these internal signals allows individuals to maximize intellectual ability through a process called cortical facilitation. Cortical facilitation helps individuals to react faster, make better decisions, seize opportunities and be more perceptive and creative.

Therefore the Peak Performance programme goes beyond the theory of performance management and actually gives individuals the ability to establish new behaviours, which can be sustained in the long-term. One of the unique points about the Peak Performance programme is that its impact can be measured and improvements have been sustained at 12 months. Evidence gathered from training over 30,000 individuals worldwide, in organizations such as Shell, BP, Unilever, Sears, and HSBC has demonstrated that the Peak Performance programme benefits both the performance and health of employees and reduces home work conflict. (The Peak Performance programme is offered in North America under the title: "The Power to Change Performance" and "Inner Quality Management").

Benefits
These techniques are specifically designed to:

• Reintroduce stamina, vitality and resilience at a fundamental level by:
  • increasing hormonal balance
  • enhancing immunity
  • improving autonomic function
• Increase perceptual clarity and creativity
• Increase the ability to influence others through personal coherence.

The Peak Performance programme accommodates up to 25 individuals and teaches four techniques during a day of experiential learning. By the end of the one-day programme at least 85% of attendees will be able to use the tools successfully and see for themselves, using computer aided cardiovascular equipment - the Freeze-Framer, how their own physiology improves while using the techniques.

Following the initial Peak Performance programme a follow up programme, Sustaining Performance is recommended. This programme re-inforces the techniques, and takes the technology into the areas of decision-making, leadership and creativity. This consolidates the initial training and helps create a self-sustaining flexible and successful culture. Thereafter a curriculum of additional solutions is available depending on need.

Personal and Business Impact of Peak Performance Programme
Table 1:Percentage of individuals responding to the top two of five possible answers before and six weeks and six months after Peak Performance programme (sample size =500).

Health Impact of Peak Performance Programme  
a.) Blood Pressure. High blood pressure affects one in four adults and is considered one of the most important public health issues facing the industrialised world. The Peak Performance programme has been consistently shown to reduce blood pressure. If this effect were to be repeated across the entire population it could reduce the incidence of stroke by approximately 50%.

Figure 1: Blood pressure data before and eight weeks after programme (sample size 78).
	Global Co. 1	Global Co. 2	Global IT Co.		Global Co. 1	Global Co. 2	Global IT Co.

b.) Heart Rate Variability (HRV). This is a very sophisticated measure of overall health. It has been shown to potentially assess longevity and risk of significant cardiovascular disease and underpins human performance and vitality. The scientific literature suggests that HRV should remain stable over time, with 3-5% deterioration per year.The significant improvements in HRV following the Peak Performance programme in those who used the tools represents not only a reduction in health risk but also a significant improvement in energy and vitality.

Conclusion
The Peak Performance programme has been shown in numerous organisations around the world to reduce stress and deliver measurable improvements in personal health, business performance and improved work life balance.

© 2002, HeartMath LLC