Three Simple Prompts for a High-Performance Mindset
Think Like an Olympian to Stay Focused When the Pressure Is On
Trevor Moawad was a sports psychologist who worked with top athletes. His focus was getting his players’ mindset and mental approach right for high-performance.
In his book, “It Takes What It Takes”, he details the work he did with Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson. In one exercise, Trevor helped Michael come up with simple statements that would get him in the right headspace before a competition. Repeating those mantras would allow him to stay focused and keep the mental noise out.
What were Michael’s go-to statements?
“Keep my head down. Pump my arms. Explode. I’m a bullet.”
I love this!
I can see Michael out on the track in front of crowds of thousands in the stadium and millions more on TV. As the runners are gathering in their lanes, he’s shaking out his arms, getting ready to run the race of his life. He has his famous gold shoes on. The spotlight is on him. The competition is fierce. His pride and the pride of his entire country are on the line, too.
“Keep my head down. Pump my arms. Explode. I’m a bullet.”
Do you have any mental cues you use before a “big game”? Or at the start of your day? What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of leader?
Big meeting coming up? Important decision? If so, how do you need to show up?
Take Action
Write down your own go-to statements. Pick ones you can rely on to stay focused on the right things when you need to perform at your best.
Check out the “Mental Prompts for Business” free download, here.
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About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.