By adopting some of the habits of top athletes, managers can coach their team members to “peak performance.”

1. Take on more—but not too much. To get stronger, athletes need to stress their muscles more than they’re used to. But pile on too much, and muscles might get hurt. In the same way, managers need to provide employees with enough new challenges to grow, but not so many that they get overwhelmed. Check in with employees to see if they are burned out and need a hand.
2. Go for gradual gains. Athletes improve by adding more weight, more laps, and more repetitions. But the pace of progression is key. Just think of the runner who is out of shape and only trains a few weeks for a marathon. A Microsoft Work Trend Index survey found that the No. 1 struggle that workers face is not having enough time and energy to get things done. Managers need to keep track of their employees’ workload and rebalance when necessary.
3. Forget “one size fits all.” Athletes have different body shapes, sizes, and life circumstances. They need to adapt to their training regimen, but the training regimen also must also adapt to them. With this in mind, managers should give employees some flexibility in tailoring their work.
4. Use it or lose it. If you don’t keep up with your sport, your performance declines. Similarly, if employees learn a new skill, but don’t get a chance to use it, they will forget it. Don’t waste training—create opportunities for employees to put new skills into practice.
5. Train, rest, repeat. Athletes can’t always be “on”; they need periods of rest and recovery, and employees are no different. While the responsibility for getting rest mainly falls on the employee, managers can play a supporting role. For example, they can make sure quiet, slower times follow the end of projects, or they can institute meeting-free days.
6. Go for the goal. Training needs to be designed to match the goal of the athlete. Employees often struggle to connect what they’re doing with the big picture of the organization. As a manager, the more you can keep those organization goals and priorities in front of your employees, the more motivated they will be.

For more advice, read “Six Principles for Athletes That Work for Work Too.”