The Performance Mindset

INTRODUCTIONMADE NOT BORN

Yes, you need a certain level of talent or innate skill, coordination and physical aptitude that are, at least in part, a product of your genetic code to become an athlete, but not as much as you might think. You also need to work relentlessly, investing hours, weeks, months and years, to realise any talent. But mindset is the key that unlocks talent, allowing you to remain engaged and committed to any practice to maximise this talent. Without a finely tuned mindset, the work doesn't happen. It also enables performance when it counts. Mindset is the cornerstone because it both contributes to doing the work and, once the work is done, helps to realise the talent and work. It's also important to understand that a performance mindset can be learned.

Laying a mindset foundation

Many environmental, social and personal factors contribute to mindset. It is about how a person thinks, feels and behaves in a wide range of situations, as well as how environmental and social situations are managed. Mindset also influences behaviour, sustaining motivation and focus, being resilient, decision making in and out of a sport, and managing personal wellbeing and relationships. A performance mindset is about having an attitude and toolkit of mental performance skills to help development and then perform at competitions. These skills are relevant not only in sport, but in spheres such as study, work and other activities. Here I want to explain why mindset is the foundation ...