INNER GAME, THE

Rough Notes,  Jun 2008  by Addis, Scott

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Lessons learned in the world of sports

My senior thesis in college was "An Analysis of Athletes in Pressure Situations." As a psychology major and student athlete at Princeton University, I wanted to understand the mental aspects that create success or failure in sports and in life-the Inner Game. I have come to learn that the emotions felt and the lessons learned in sports have tremendous applicability to our daily work as insurance and risk management professionals. Please consider the following emotions:

Mental Toughness. An essential ingredient in achieving success in sports is the athlete's ability to focus on a task and not let negative thoughts intrude. A key strategy to achieve mental toughness is acquiring the ability to handle pressure. Pressure can be both a positive and negative force and affects each person differently.

Confronted with pressure, athletes may weigh both the benefits of success and the pains of failure at the same time. Seasoned athletes often do not feel pressure. These athletes are so immersed in the game that they do not have time to understand the magnitude of the moment. Mentally tough athletes know how to stay focused and, most important, how to deal with adversity. They understand the importance of controlling their emotions. It is this inner strength that allows them to achieve peak performance even in the most pressure-packed situations.

Great athletes have a warrior mentality. They stand tall even in the most difficult circumstances. They understand the importance of demonstrating confidence and poise to their teammates, coaches and fans.

Self-Image. An athlete's positive self-image is essential to success. If athletes do not feel good about themselves, their performance will suffer. A negative self-image can hinder the performance of even the most gifted athlete. Because athletes must learn how to deal with anxiety, fear and distractions, positive self-image is an essential ingredient to achieve success.

Commitment. Amazing athletic performances don't just happen. They are a result of tremendous dedication, determination and sacrifice. Commitment starts in the athlete's heart and soul. Every athlete faces numerous obstacles and opposition. Commitment gives the athlete inspiration to carry forward even when confronted with tremendous challenges. In life, as in sports, there is no substitute for commitment.

Goal Setting. Athletes are experts at setting goals. At a young age, they learn that goals are essential to their development. Goal achievement brings rewards. Success cannot be measured or achieved unless one sets specific goals. The seasoned athlete understands that setting goals is an art. Goals set too high or too low can impede progress. Reasonable goals improve performance. Goals improve the quality of practices. Goals are dreams with deadlines. A powerful acronym for goal setting is SMART.

S - Specific

M - Measurable

A - Achievable

R - Realistic

T - Timeline

Fear of Failure. Fear creates tension, doubt and panic. Fear of failure affects an athlete's ability to perform at the highest level. It increases heart and respiratory rates as well as muscle tension. Fear of failure causes narrowed perception and attention as well as diminished cognitive flexibility. Fear of failure is the toughest opponent many athletes ever face. When the athlete is not afraid to fail, his or her chances of success improve dramatically.

Motivation. An athlete's desire to succeed must be stronger than his or her fear of failure. Motivation is the key. Motivation starts with a sense of purpose. It is rooted within one's heart and soul. Athletes find motivation in different ways. For some it is a mission to be accomplished. For others it is fulfilling a lifelong dream. Often this dream turns into a burning desire to reach a specific goal. Playing with purpose and passion comes easily for athletes who are motivated by their desire to achieve.

Visualization. The power of visualization and mental rehearsal has been universally viewed as an effective means to improve athletic performance. Imagery, or visualization, is one of the most important mental skills for winning the mind game in sports. It allows athletes to see themselves performing "In The Zone." When athletes are "In The Zone," everything around them seems to slow down. They are able to see the game with clarity and understanding.

Great athletes roll their mental camera before performances. They understand the benefits of creating clear and visible images. Their ability to see themselves succeeding breeds confidence. Confidence is the result of preparation. Preparation begins with a mental game plan.

Positive Attitude. Attitudes influence how an athlete acts and feels. Attitude is a choice that has a profound impact on performance. A positive attitude gives an athlete a competitive edge, whereas a negative attitude impairs peak performance-especially in team-oriented contests. It has been said that 10% of performance is what happens to an athlete and 90% is how the athlete chooses to react to it.