SOAR TO SUCCESS / Personal Growth Strategies athletes with mental toughness find a way to produce the same results. Consider the careers of athletes Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo. They are examples of resilience and confidence. Mental toughness gives you the confidence needed to keep pushing forward despite the competitive situation. The key component of mental toughness is the ability to focus on the challenge right in front of you. You see, athletes that lack mental toughness have a misplaced focus. It is easy to deliver a topnotch performance when the pressure is off or when people feel fresh. It is more important to keep that level of energy when fatigue or pressure sets in. A good coach helps remind an athlete that their limits are only perceptions developed by their mind. When I felt tired or wanted to stop, I was told that I am in control of the situation. It enabled me to push harder and fight longer. Over time the belief was instilled in me that I am capable of more than I ever thought possible. It literally helped me develop a “fortitude” muscle which prepared me to manage more risk. The Ohio State University Athletics Department states “No matter the activity, always encourage athletes to practice visualizing their success. This is a great way for athletes to overcome any mental limitations. Success for most athletes is achieving something that they have never done before. In order to accomplish this, they will need to break down their mental barriers. Recommend meditating or going for a walk to think about their success.” Athletes visualize the process of success in their minds. Once you can visualize that success in your mind, you’ll experience overcoming mental blocks that can hamper your performance. In business, being mentally tough brings a variety of benefits for individuals and organizations. Research conducted by New Zealand’s ResearchPartnershasconcluded that those with higher levels of mental toughness, enjoy the following: • Better performance – it explains up to 25% of the variation in workplace performance. • Improved positivity – adoption of more of a “can do” approach which leads to greater rapport and connectivity with colleagues. • Greater wellbeing – more contentment and better stress management. • Change management – a calmer and lower stress response to organizational change. • Increased aspirations – greater ambition and confidence in achieving targets and a greater willingness to persevere in order to do so. Practice these things and you will see a difference. In business, being mentally tough brings a variety of benefits for individuals and organizations.
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