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

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79: Mental Preparation for the Olympics with Dr. Sean McCann, Senior Sport Psychologist for the USOC Nov 24, 2016

Show notes

Sean McCann, Senior Sport Psychologist for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), has traveled to the last 12 Olympics to work with the nation's best athletes. In his work for the USOC, he works directly with teams and coaches, from mental skills seminars and workshops about Olympic pressure, to individual sessions with athletes.

In this interview, he talks about how the best mentally prepare for a competition that only happens every four years. Sean describes that one key factor is to overbuild mental skills so that the athlete can perform when the conditions are not perfect. He suggests to focus on behavior and to ask: 1) What does it mean to do my job well? and 2) What does it look like to not do my job well?

Dr. McCann says that mental skills are the bedrock to performance which athletes use to self-regulate themselves, but there is an extra layer. This extra layer is the 3-step process: 1) Get your questions answered (i.e., logistics, strategy, doubts, etc.), 2) Find a focus of 3-4 things that are process focused ("To perform well, I will…") and 3) Perform with certainty.

You can reach Sean @sportpsychone and at sean.mccann@usoc.com.

78: Checking in with Yourself Nov 15, 2016

Show notes

High performers work to understand themselves. They work to be aware of their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. They use their ABCs to stay in control of their thoughts and emotions, and consider the ripples they want to make.

My Affirmation this Week: "I check in with myself and breathe. I channel my inner CUB and master the deep breath. I take control of myself to reach a new level of performance."

77: Be Careful with the Company You Keep Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

High performers surround themselves with people that help them be great. They know that attitude and energy is contiguous. They surround themselves with the right people who support and encourage their vision. Because the people around you can either elevate your game or bring you down.

Affirmation this Week: I choose carefully the people I spend time with. I surround myself with optimistic, confident people that are jazzed about their future. I choose people who elevate my game and life.

76: Be Mindful Nov 01, 2016

Show notes

High performers work to understand themselves including their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. They work to be nonjudgmentally aware in the present moment. They know this mindful practice allows them to improve their performance, happiness, and reduce the stress they experience.

My Gritty Affirmation this Week: I work to notice my thoughts, emotions and body in the present moment. I free myself of the habits that don't allow me to reach my greater potential. I quiet my monkey mind by staying in the present moment.

75: Confidence is a Decision Oct 11, 2016

Show notes

High performers are confident – they believe and trust in their ability. They have certainty that they will be successful. They are confidently humble – they have inner arrogance but don't brag. They are constantly nurturing their confidence because they know confidence can be fragile.

Affirmation this Week: I choose confidence. I choose to believe and trust in my ability. I constantly nurture my confidence with my daily decisions to be at my best for myself and my team.

74: Imagine Greatness Oct 06, 2016

Show notes

High performers imagine past and future success regularly. They create in their mind first, and then they live it. They imagine coming back from setbacks stronger and imagine dealing with adversity while staying in control of their body and mind. They use imagery to prepare to perform and get in their flow zone.

Affirmation this Week: I imagine success. I create success in my mind first, and then I make it happen. I follow the lead of elites and use the most powerful performance weapon I have – my mind.

73: Building Culture, Trust and Leadership with Kevin King Sep 29, 2016

Show notes

In this interview, Kevin King, Owner of Premier Teambuilding Solutions, Lecturer, and Leadership Development Consultant, discusses culture, trust and leadership. He shares with us three levels of trust and what they could mean for you: competence, interpersonal and character. Kevin also describes what great leaders do and how they are students of their leadership – they are constantly learning about themselves and growing as a leader. He describes that the best leaders control the controllables and how controlling what you can control is an intentional practice. He also discusses how to create culture and how physics informs how to build culture.

72: Choose a Growth Mindset Sep 27, 2016

Show notes

High performers adopt a growth mindset. High performance happens because of hard work and dedication. They we see challenges as exciting and the find optimistic ways of explaining adversity. They take failure as feedback and continuously seek to improve and help others do the same. They take a "yet" mentality and believe they will figure it out.

Affirmation this Week: I see challenges as exciting. I see mistakes as helping me learn. When I get frustrated with my progress, I will remind myself I just haven't done it "yet."

71: Do You Sep 23, 2016

Show notes

High performers focus on their improvement and reaching their standard of excellence instead of comparing themselves to others. They stay focused on their race. High performers know that people who focus on others struggle to reach greatness. Comparison is the quickest way to let your team's and your individual performance suffer. Instead, high performers celebrate others and their accomplishments and ask themselves, "What can I learn from this person?"

Affirmation this Week: I pursue my standard of excellence. I stay focused on my lane and my progress. I work to be my best one step at a time.

70: Playing Carefree and Present with Erika Carlson, Certified Mental Trainer and CEO Sep 20, 2016

Show notes

Erika Carlson, CEO and Certified Mental Trainer at Mental Training Inc., discusses the importance of playing carefree and present. She describes that playing "carefree" means to not care about the outcome. The best train their mind to be present moment focused. When we overthink, we are focused on the past or future, not the present. She describes that many athletes have outcome goals but no process to achieve them. The key to reaching your BHAG's, Erika says, is to "focus on your process today." Erika also discusses the importance of failure, understanding "patterns" and the emotional wheel.

"I have not met a person that cannot improve on their self-talk." @SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong
"There are always patterns pre-game, after mistakes, and post-game to help bring awareness." @SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong
"The quicker you can learn from a mistake, the more valuable it is. The mistake then is a blurb not a mountain." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong
"A key to performance is to be calm from the neck up and relaxed from the next down." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong
"When you focus on what's right, you acknowledge an additional source of confidence." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong

To reach out to Erika, you can find her at erikacarlsonsports.com or on Twitter @SportPsycher.

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