Sport Psychology for Project, Change and Business Leaders Everywhere

“Success in a sport at the highest level is ten per cent physical and ninety per cent mental.”

- Gavin Freeman, Australian Sport Psychologist 1

Why is the space between our ears so powerful?

Society has recently shown great interest in positive psychology and mental wellbeing. Yet in business, the idea of relaxation and restoration in forging higher productivity levels is still somewhat taboo.

High-level athletes have consulted sports psychologists. Athletes reap the benefits of a solid mental game from evidence-based psychological techniques. Arguably, much of this benefit is from experimenting with techniques that work for them. These techniques are both behavioural and cognitive/thinking based.

Rest is important to these athletes too. The same athletes may sleep eight to nine hours at night. They rest between short and focused training sessions. So if athletes understand the power of physical rest, routines and the focus on the mental game… why don’t business professionals?

In recent times high performing executives have adopted strategies to help with their mental game. They may not have time to rest between intense meetings or bursts of productivity. Savvy executives understand the power of practical sports psychology tools. These tools include routine, imagery, mindfulness and constructive self-talk. Their unfettered attention gives them enduring focus on what is important.

Why do we neglect our mental game?

It never ceases to amaze me how project professionals and business leaders push themselves so hard. I know so many project and change leaders who look so well “put together”. Yet, they suffer from anxiety or depression, despite their highly-functioning work persona. These hard-driving executives still expect amazing results from their bodies and minds over the longer term.

Our brains are wired towards negativity. Many professions are so well-paid because they reduce business risk. How much do businesses and individuals throw money at removing pain? In contrast, how much do they throw at possible future gains and a general sense of wellbeing? Many of our well-paid professions focus on problems rather than solutions.

Look at lawyers, doctors, risk professionals and many of us on project teams — how many people look at possibilities? Are project and change professionals brought onto projects with the seeming focus on growth and improvement? Yet five minutes on a project, it is clear we are there to focus on fixing a problem or taking the brunt of the hassles that shape change.

A big part of why we neglect our mental wellbeing might have a lot to do with our attention. There is a saying in martial arts: “Where the head goes the body follows”. This saying applies to throwing someone or taking them off balance. But it is an apt quote to use here: Where we focus our attention, our thoughts, emotions and activities follow.

Your attention is a powerful and finite resource. This attention is your gateway to concentration and focus. Attention is a sustainable competitive advantage for project and business leaders everywhere.

Yet think of your average week at work. Where is your attention? It may be on project milestones, onboarding that new hire, navigating a thorny stakeholder request or finding clever and impactful ways to help people navigate change from your project. Your attention is different to your habits or things you do without even thinking about it. Yes, you brush your teeth every day (well, at least I hope so) and do not give it any thought considering your career or anything else you pay attention to.

What can you get out of this?

This edition of Human Factors and Change has an eight-part series on applying sports psychology techniques. We explain how each technique helps you become a higher-performing business professional.

Expect some thought-provoking material and ideas to consider and practice. See what “inner game” techniques work for you! These ideas may evolve from knowing to doing to being. To understand these “inner game” concepts, try them out during the next day you are at work. Then aim to make these techniques ongoing behaviours. Over time, the “mental skills repertoire” you enjoy from our second edition of Human Factors and Change becomes a habit.

Enjoy each article and let us know how you go. You can reach us at humanfactorsadvisory@gmail.com.

Sport Psychology for Project, Change and Business Leaders everywhere (8-part series):

• The top 10% of project professionals embrace this: Do you?
• Feeling Stuck? Unlock Transformation with 5 Questions
• What Elite Athletes and Psychologists Know That You Don’t
• Eye of the tiger: One powerful psychological trait of top project professionals
• “Well, this might be fun for a little while…”
• Are You the World’s Leading Personal and Professional Development Coach…for You?
• Strategic Generosity and The Long Game: More Power to You
• Curated sports psychology articles for edition # 2

Our book — The Change Manager’s Companion — is available now. You can also check out our online course on Change Management.

Reference

1. Freeman G. The Business Olympian: Overcoming Hurdles in Today’s Business Environment. New Holland Publishing Australia Pty Ltd; 2009.