The Winner's Edge:
The best performers in any competition continually upgrade their knowledge and technique to stay ahead. A small percentage of them also train their mental skills through procedures such as imagery, positive self-talk, and goal setting. Knowledge, skill, and mental tools are wasted, however, without three more important, but often unseen, factors. These are organization, discipline and effort. Organization and discipline provide the structure needed to realize strengths, and effort is the thrust that makes it happen. Let's make sure we are not losing an unseen advantage by neglecting one of these important areas.
Organization
Organization is the result of forming crystal clear goals, and then ordering
our lives in a way most conducive to achieving these goals. Tennis player who
pack their bags on the night before a big match eliminate a major distraction
and worry the next day. No need to pack in the morning, and time and energy
to focus on more important matters! Arriving to the tournament site in advance
also helps, as the player gains a home field advantage in a more familiar setting.
There is nothing worse than showing up at the last minute, without adequate
mental or physical preparation, and then hoping to perform your best! These
principles apply in many other situations too. For example, executives planning
and ordering their agendas in advance are freed to work on more substantive
issues.
Having a good supporting cast (coach, trainer, sport psychologist) is very important
at the highest levels in sport. While these resources are not available to everyone,
dealing with problems on the fly leave people quite vulnerable to distractions.
Successful performers organize a smart plan of attack, take care of seemingly
insignificant details, and follow through on their plans in an organized manner.
Discipline
In addition to being organized, there is another unseen advantage - discipline.
Discipline involves acting in a consistent manner on a regular basis, despite
situational changes or feelings. With discipline, the performer reduces distractions
by attending to the right material at the right time. The junior tennis player
who turns out the lights every night at 11 PM gains an advantage with regular
sleep and energy. Proper eating habits are another form of discipline for an
athlete. The key is to be disciplined about the right things for success. Although
rarely glamorous or exciting, the habit of doing many small things consistently
right is rewarded in performance. Marines in basic training are fully indoctrinated
into the art of discipline, and they better be! Their survival depends on high
performance, and discipline trains the mind and body to respond well to stress
too.
Effort
The final unseen advantage is effort. Many performers have tremendous talent
and organizational abilities, but never reach their potential because they lack
the effort needed for success. Effort is a conscious application of energy in
a given direction. It is the fuel that makes everything go. Even the latest
model Ferrari won't go an inch without gasoline. Your performance will not work
without effort. The key to developing the best effort is to make sure your fuel
is pure. Pure fuel comes from intrinsic motivation, or feeling motivated from
within.
Many parents and coaches (often with the greatest intentions) undermine intrinsic
motivation by too closely aligning external rewards (money, rankings) with performance.
Although it is good to strive for financial rewards in business and sports,
and trophies look sharp on the shelves, these accumulations are never sufficient.
Athletes with the greatest efforts (Jimmy Connors comes to mind) play because
they simply love it. They would perform well even if there were no external
rewards because they love what they do and are already internally rewarded.
Playing tennis for a parent or a coach is only partially helpful. The best soldiers
in history have been the ones defending their own homes, rather than greedy
mercenaries padding their bank accounts. Similarly, the performer seeking excellence
should discover the inner resources needed to excel, or never expect their highest
performance possible.
In Sum
People are usually quick to acknowledge physical talent and superior focus under
pressure. Few acknowledge the great impact of the behind the scenes work involving
organization, discipline and effort. Gather in these unseen advantages as fast
as you can, and your opponent will walk off the court looking for a new pair
of glasses!