The Mental Toughness Challenge

The term, Mental Toughness, is talked about frequently.  In the coaching world, we tend to make quick judgements on our athletes’ mental toughness.  When players don’t perform well in so called big moments, they are often labeled as mentally weak.  Before slapping a permanent tag on athletes (and people in general) it is important to first define the characteristics of the mentally tough.

Three Characteristics

1. Courage: Sports and life tend to favor the bold.  The doers.  The ones who will take a challenge.  The ones who are not afraid of failure, or at least if they are afraid, they decide to dance anyway.  It takes courage to overcome obstacles and persist.  The pursuit of excellence is filled with challenges.  Being uncomfortable and experiencing pain is a possibility; however, the courageous know pain is an impetus for change and being uncomfortable is a stimulus for growth.  Courage is a prerequisite for elite performance.  Courage allows you to be in the amphitheater.
2. Optimism:  Is an act of faith, a belief in something that can’t be proven.  Optimism is what keeps us going when conditions are tough and the outcome appears bleak.  Folks with a pessimistic outlook will generalize these road blocks in a negative way.  “Why me?” “I can never overcome this.” A person with optimism acknowledges the set-back back but charges on knowing she can positively impact the future.
3. Confidence: The closer we inch toward the pinnacle of our profession the more challenging it becomes to maintain a positive self-image.  It’s important to remember that it is our job to construct our self-image and we control our confidence level.  High achievers rarely feel “at-their best.”  Instead, they draw on their mental skills to win with what they have.  Ken Ravizza, who recently passed away, said it best, “Are you that bad of an athlete that you have to feel great to perform well?”

Nearly everyone would agree that mental toughness is critical.  We’d also likely agree that the three traits mentioned above: courage, optimism and confidence are admirable.  The interesting thing is we do very little to enhance these virtues.  Most of us assume these are genetic gifts; that we are born with courage, optimism and confidence.  Sure, there are those who may have a certain genetic coding that helps them along the way.  I, however, believe that if we are intentional we can sharpen our mental performance much like we can improve our physical skills.

Internal Resume:

What if we became intentional about sharpening our mental skills? What if we sought out ways to train and measure?  When we attempt to improve physically we test and measure.  Why don’t we do the same thing with our mental skills.

This Week’s Challenge:

First, decide the virtues you would like to either gain or improve upon.  Next, find a way to quantify.  For example: to increase your courage do one thing completely out of your comfort zone.  By doing, and not sitting on the sideline, you will be strengthening your courage muscle.  For confidence listen intently to your self-talk and the stories you tell yourself. Are you speaking greatness, or are you using a demeaning voice that kills your self-image?  Be aware of situations in your life where you can choose a positive or negative approach.  Choose the high road and envision the successful outcome.  Finally, journal your findings.  Putting pen to paper will enhance this exercise greatly.

Final Thought:

Please don’t sit on the sideline and expect your “mental toughness” to improve.  Get in the game and find ways to enhance these critical skills.  Also, by being in the arena trying to improve we will make those we lead better as well.  It is hard to ask someone to follow if we are not trying to improve ourselves.  I look forward to hearing about your journey this week.

Mike