Our brains filter information 24/7. Some information makes it to our consciousness, some doesn’t. Some information we believe. Other we dismiss. A hidden process in our brains causes us to make assumptions, judgements, and decisions without having all the information. It is called the confirmation bias.
Casting vision is an essential skill for any leader. Whether you lead a household, a college football team, or a Fortune 500 corporation you won’t succeed without vision. Why is a vision so important? According to Warren Bennis, professor at USC’s Marshall School of Business, “In order to take the organization to the highest possible level, leaders must engage their people with a compelling and tangible vision.”
Coaches want their athletes to play their best in the biggest moments in sports. Players want to come through for their teammates when it matters most. Why do top performers seem to play their best on the biggest stage? One answer can be found in what athletes believe.
In our efforts to increase productivity, we find the strangest places to get work done. A friend posted on Facebook yesterday that he was working from the back of his SUV in the parking lot of a big box store while others did the shopping. I’ve written a blog post while zipping across Scotland by rail. Another friend of mine works in an open office space where nothing separates her desk from her coworkers’. Yet, every environment isn’t suited for productivity.
Confidence, a core tenet of mental toughness, has long been heralded as essential for an athlete’s optimal performance. Research confirms what many coaches already know, confident athletes dream bigger, work harder, think more effectively, and cope better with the stresses of competition.
I once heard that the hardest person to lead is yourself. I’d never seen leadership in that way. However, since that day, I have proven the concept to be true. I am my toughest leadership challenge. Others have said you must first lead yourself before you can lead others. So, are you leading yourself well? Where do you start?
High performers are often praised for their mental toughness, attitude, sound decision making, and ability to produce results. How did they get that way? How did they develop a championship mindset? One defining characteristic that separates the good from great is an individual’s ability to master his or her thinking. Specifically, high performers think on purpose. Our thinking drives our performances. If we can master our thinking, we’ll be well on our way to cultivating excellence.
Athletes crave peak performance. Once they’ve tasted playing at their best, they search for ways to recreate those performances time and again. However, few reflect on the underlying factors that drive them to be their very best. Coaches can help facilitate the self awareness necessary to increase an athlete’s ability to perform closer to his or her peak more consistently.
Nearly half of Americans will embark on a new set of goals this week (i.e. New Year’s Resolutions). According to the stats, the vast majority of people who make resolutions will fail to reach their goals – 92%. Furthermore, 24% fall short year after year. That reminds me of the definition of insanity (doing the same thing and expecting different results). Are you one of these people? If so, you likely have a flaw in your achievement strategy. If you’ve struggled to achieve your goals, allow me to show you how to overcome the most common stumbling blocks.
When is the last time you felt rejuvenated? Perhaps it was as long ago as last summer’s beach vacation. Without a regular rhythm of rejuvenation, we feel worn out, run down, stressed, and maybe even a little depressed. That’s not how you want to feel this Christmas! Allow me to share some tips to rejuvenate and reenergize your mind, body, and spirit this holiday season.
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