They say there are three types of coaches today: those who just got hired, those who just got fired and those on the hot seat! I am sure it’s the same in the corporate world. CEOs, like head coaches, cycle through jobs based on outcomes and a million other factors. Whether you just got shown the door or are learning where the closest door is to your office, all of these scenarios come with challenges!
Athletes and employees aren’t insulated from these categories either! With new roster limits, starting or sitting the bench, getting promoted or not, fluctuations in the economy and a million other factors, stability isn’t so stable…and let’s not forget that portal that leads to nowhere for almost 50% of the athletes who enter!
PRESSURE. CHANGE. EXPECTATIONS. DISTRACTIONS. FEAR. BURNOUT. UNCERTANTY. FATIGUE. CRITICISM. DOUBT. TEAM DYNAMICS. STRESS. ENVIRONMENT. OVERTHINKING. COMPARISONS. EMOTIONS.
No matter who we are or what our situation looks like today, each of us can see ourselves in at least one of the words on this list. And no matter what our word is, all of the above affect our performance…because they all mess with our mindset!
Even though these things are inevitable, there’s good news. Whether you're leading a sports team or a corporate team, if you choose to focus on managing these factors, there’s another level of performance out there for you!
Performance is a behavior. As Kris Lewandoski, my long-time strength coach says, the #1 rule for peak performance is being available. He focuses on the physical aspects of being available – rest, recovery and a healthy body that’s ready to perform.
We are talking about being available mentally – being present, thinking productively, focusing on process and using our posture to help manage our mindset!
We don’t need the gobs of research out there to tell us that the mental game is just as critical as the physical, technical, tactical or knowledge game. We know that incorporating a mental performance program into our team’s development plan is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Why does every team – no matter how or where you compete – need a mental performance operating system (MPOS)?
Because we can all benefit from increased resilience. It is a cornerstone of success. Dr. Duckworth’s research on grit shows that individuals who possess perseverance and passion for long-term goals are more likely to succeed. A MPOS includes skills like reframing setbacks and managing negative self-talk which bolster resilience, helping us stick to it even when it doesn’t go our way. These skills are particularly crucial for teams recovering from losses or setbacks, those who want to sway from what’s important now toward trying to do too much…or less so it doesn’t hurt!
And we can all benefit from improved communication and cohesion! We know that effective communication is the backbone of any successful team. Just ask any team how they can improve, and I promise you one of the factors they throw out will be “communication.” Everyone knows it matters…and an MPOS enhances active listening (and talking) because it helps us build an outward mindset which leads to higher levels of emotional intelligence and better conflict resolution skills. Studies comparing teams that have utilized an MPOS to those that don’t reveal that teams practicing mental performance tools report higher levels of trust and cohesion, leading to better on and off-field results.
What’s more, we can all benefit from improved mental and emotional well-being! The rise in awareness of mental health has spotlighted the importance of supporting the whole person. An MPOS includes mindfulness and stress management tools, which not only enhance performance but also safeguard mental well-being. The APA and a billion other journals link mindfulness practices with reduced burnout and improved focus. What’s a good MPOS without breathing techniques and tools to help us enhance our focus?
I know, no matter who we are, finding time to focus on the mental game is hard! There is so much to do and seemingly less time to do it!
But integrating mental training doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are a few practical ways to work it in!
DO IT FIRST: Practice a Pre-Practice Mental Check-In or First Few Minutes Focus Exercise.
Start each practice with a brief 5-minute session. Ask athletes to identify out loud or on paper, one focus point for the day or their intention for the day (how will they show up?). This sets the tone for intentional training.
Or do a 2-minute mindfulness exercise to center attention. Tools like the "physiological sigh" (two quick inhales followed by a slow exhale) can immediately reduce stress and improve focus.
USE MENTAL REHEARSAL: Pre, during or post-practice – it’s simple and doesn’t demand a lot of time!
End practices with 2 minutes of guided mental rehearsal. Encourage athletes to picture themselves executing skills or handling pressure situations with confidence. Maybe it’s reliving the good from the day’s drills or rescripting something they want to do better.
Encourage your team to mentally rehearse their success in key presentations, plays, negotiations or competitive scenarios before they perform (before they get in the box or start the conversation), before practice, before bed or anytime throughout the day. This not only builds confidence, but it primes the brain for optimal performance!
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT: We order what we want at a restaurant, yet we talk about what we are trying to avoid all day long!
Include a "language audit" in team development plans. Identify negative or unproductive phrases and replace them with constructive and productive self-talk to foster a growth mindset.
Incorporate Trevor Moawad’s simple rule for champions: Stop saying stupid #@!& out loud!
No matter who you are or which direction you’re headed, it’s important and easy to weave an MPOS into the fabric of your team’s daily routine. Because how we think affects how we feel. How we feel affects how we behave (and performance is a behavior!). How we behave affects how we perform…which directly affects our results.
It’s not a magic bullet, but research shows it pushes the needle toward improved performance!
Leave mental performance on the table and you’re leaving the next level there, too!
Manage the moments (with a Mental Performance Operating System)!
Julie
Julie Jones
Mental Performance Coach
SSB Performance
juliej@ssbperformance.com • 234-206-0946
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