3 Reasons to Treat Your Mental Skills the Same as Your Technical Skills!
A few weeks ago, I decided like I often do… to level up. I signed up for a course presented by Aaron Walsh on integrating mental skills into performance environments.
One of the most significant learnings so far is that as mental performance coaches, we need to understand the mental skills model that a team or organisation is using or is looking to use as part of their program. (Note - This also applies to you as an individual.)
Without getting into all the details of the different models.
The one that grabbed me initially was the deficit model… ie. viewing mental performance work as a strategy to fix problems or to lean into the mental space only when things are not going the way you want them to.
I know this all too well… Athletes reach out and say… ‘Jody, I am struggling. I need to talk about my doubt, lack of belief, lack of energy etc.’ I normally help.
However, now I have come to realise that Mental Performance is a key pillar of performance…
Imagine an athlete going to the Strength & Conditioning coach or the skills coach saying… ‘I am performing right now… so you know what… I don’t need to train with you for the next few weeks… cause things are okay right now.’ It won’t happen. Athletes do their physical and technical work, all the time irrespective of how they are feeling or performing.
Why? Because we know that fitness and good skills are also key pillars of performance.
So here are 3 reasons to start considering integrating mental skills into your practice and performance.
Mental performance work balances your experience.
Although there is no guarantee that a proactive integrated approach will make you perform great all the time. Through the practice of mental skills, you can become more proficient at managing the highs and lows of your performance. ie when things don’t go your way you don’t get too low and when things go well you don’t go too high.
Having a strategy for your mental performance allows continuous development in the area.
Instead of considering mental performance or mental skills work only when we are underperforming… we rather look to develop a strategy to ensure continuous engagement and growth in your mental game much like you do with your fitness and skills.
More able to be ready when it matters most.
Performance happens in pressurised environments… a huge part of mental performance work is about creating the processes for performance. In pressurised moments a focus on the process can reduce the effect of the anxiety that pressure often brings.
When ready to level up your mental performance game… feel free to reach out and start a conversation about how mental performance work can serve you in being better when it matters most.