High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset

Gloria Balague is a sport psychologist who currently works with the elite athletes and teams including the Chicago Bears, USA Gymnastics and USA Track and Field. She taught at the University of Illinois, Chicago starting in 1988 and retired just a few short years ago. Gloria has attended several Olympic and World Championships helping athletes with the mental game.  She says that the world’s best have two distinguishing characteristics: 1) they have a clear picture of where they are right now and 2) have an unshakeable belief in themselves and belief they can get there. She describes the unique environment of the NFL and how this creates difficulties in helping athletes with the mental game. The NFL is the only environment where new athletes can be signed throughout the season. She also talks about her experiences as a female working in the NFL. You can find a full description and summary at Cindrakamphoff.com/gloria.

“All stress begins with one negative thought.” Rhonda Byme High performers take control of their thinking. They notice their ANTS and talk back to their ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) in a powerful and productive way. They drive their CAR by catching it, addressing it, and releasing it. This Week’s Affirmation: “Successful people don’t believe everything they think – so I don’t have to either.”

“Negative Thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them.” Andrew Bernstein High performers recognize that their thoughts are the most important factor in reaching their greater potential. But they don’t believe everything they think! They decide to reduce their ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) and take command over their thinking. This Week’s Affirmation: I don’t believe everything I think. I talk to myself in a powerful and productive way.  

Duncan Simpson, Assistant Head of Mental Conditioning at IMG Academy, is passionate about working with people to maximize their potential and help them accomplish what they haven’t. In this interview, he talks about how focus, not confidence, is the most important mental skill. The best focus on the right things at the right time. The key is to detect distractions and dial in for 1 minute. Duncan describes that confidence is a belief state. Confident is not an emotional state. It doesn’t matter how you feel. When we are performing, there is no reason to change how we feel. Instead, he suggests we move on and shift our focus. Towards the end of the interview, he describes that motivation is a lie. It is discipline that is key to high performance. Other gems that Duncan discussed include: His “Time Machine” exercise 4 parts of a routine: physical, technical, tactile, and mental. How to layer imagery His epic failure that helps him get to where he is today. Head over cindrakamphoff.com/Duncan for a description and summary. You can follow Duncan on Twitter @SportPsychDunc or email him at duncan.simpson@img.com.

“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” Mia Hamm High performers have a burning desire to be at their best. They have high standards for themselves and others around them. They are driven to succeed and get satisfaction from pursuing their goals. They take their mistakes in stride, however, remembering that not everyone is perfect. My High Performance Affirmation: I have a burning desire to be at my best. I am driven to succeed. I focus on why I love to do what I do.

“If you change the way you look at things, the thing you look at change.” Wayne Dyer High performers use reframing daily which is the process of recreating alternative frames or looking at their life, sport, or the world. They don’t ignore the injury, difficulty or pain, but instead see a different perspective and how the obstacle is helping me. This helps them feel unstoppable and jazzed about their life, sport, and job. My High Performance Affirmation: I use reframing regularly to keep me passionate and charged for my goals and my life. I see a setback as a comeback.

“If you think you can or think you can't, you're right.” Henry Ford. High performers choose powerful, possibility-oriented, process focused and positive thoughts regardless of the situation and what is happening around them. They know this type of thinking leads to success. High performers address weak, negative, restrictive and outcome-focused thinking which does not lead to reaching their greater potential. My High Performance Affirmation: I make a commitment to not believe everything I think! I talk to myself not listen.

High performers know that how they interpret their failure greatly determines their success. They approach failure as an opportunity. They see failure as essential for them to grow, learn, get better, understand themselves. They see failure as helpful in reaching their full potential. Week’s Affirmation:  I see failure and mistakes as opportunity to learn and grow. I know failure is a  learning tool so I embrace it instead of fight it.

Dr. Mark Anshel talks about his new book, In Praise of Failure: The Value of Overcoming Mistakes in Sports and Life, in this podcast interview. Dr. Anshel has written 12 other books, and over 145 research articles. He has applied his concepts with college athletes and coaches, law enforcement, exercisers, sports rehabilitation settings, performing artists and corporate leaders. Mark came to study failure from his own experiences failing. He says we are taught to see failure as harmful, but failure should be viewed as feedback. Failure is a perception, meaning failure to one person is success to another. As leaders, coaches, parents and teachers, Dr. Anshel suggests that we should criticize behavior, not character when discussing failure. When giving feedback, we should praise first, and then discuss what the person did wrong by focusing on only 1 or 2 things. The key is to give people hope – that is what we all need, he suggests.  You can reach Dr. Anshel at Mark.Anshel@mtsu.edu. * Tweet this: “Failure is a stepping stone to something better.” Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this:  “You need to experience failure to appreciate success.” Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: “We don’t learn unless we fail. Failure is feedback.” Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: “We need failure to learn and continue to be self-motivated.” Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: “Give yourself a break once in a while. Don’t be so self-critical.” Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong   To order, Dr. Anshel’s book, In Praise of Failure you can visit Amazon HERE. He also mentions a few other books in this interview including Between Parent and Child by Haim Ginott and Teacher & Child by Haim Ginott. 

High performers are confident – they believe and trust in their ability. They wear their confidence armor so they don’t take comments and actions of others personally, but can still learn and grow. They appreciate their experiences that they have led them to where they are today. They choose confidence! Affirmation this Week: I choose confidence. I choose to believe and trust in my ability to be at my best for myself and my team.