Performance = Potential – Interference
I have been fortunate to have been enrolled on a mentoring course through the Premier League Elite Head of Coaching Programme. The four day course threw out many interesting, insightful and research-based processes and techniques, but there were a few key statements that have stuck in my head ever since hearing them. I thought I would share these statements, the research behind them and the implication it has for my work. We start with the title of this blog:
Performance = Potential – Interference
Everyone who is thriving for maximal performance will be looking for those marginal gains to push performance towards potential. Tim Gallwey, author of ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ identified that there is a game played inside a performer’s head where one’s positive mindset is being continually challenged by its own bad habits and negative thoughts – he calls this the Inner Game and this provides internal interference that if not controlled will effect performance.
His research within tennis is relevant for all performers whether in sport or business: “a tennis player first confronts the Inner Game when he discovers that there is an opponent inside his head more formidable that the one across the net.”
Gallwey defines the purpose of the Inner Game to replace negative thoughts, such as nervousness, a lack of concentration or self-doubt, with a more positive pattern of mental behaviour: focus, acceptance, calmness and self-belief. He noticed that each performer has two versions of themselves that both, in their own ways, try to help performance.
Self 1 is the louder version, sharing negative thoughts of anxiousness, self-doubt, fear of failure, tense, angry and uptight. When Self 1 takes over, you will see obvious external reactions from the performer – outbursts, arguing with themselves, others or the officials, anger and tension.
Self 2 is the quieter voice of trust and self-belief – this version of self promotes focus and concentration, self-belief and a willingness to learn……flow.
Both Self 1 and Self 2 are present in all actions; the key is recognising this and choosing which Self you want to help you and your performance. How you manage your Inner Game determines the relationship you have with external factors of interference. External influence includes anything the performer has no control over: the weather, the crowd, the opposition or the official’s decisions. If Self 1 is taking the controls, a disagreement with an official’s decision can cause stress, anxiety and anger – when Self 2 is leading, you can move on and retain your focus and presence in the game.
If you can recognise these behaviours you can increase your self-awareness and identify which ‘Self’ is leading the way. To increase performance you must reduce any interference, as we cannot control the external factors – it becomes essential that we become aware and in control of the internal ones.
How can we help?
Help the players understand the Inner Game – the Inner Game is something that they can control. Control what you can control and reduce that Interference.
Help the players understand Self 1 and Self 2 – and how both are trying (in their own way) to help them. Help them come up with strategies to maximise Self 2 and turn the volume down on Self 1.
Help the players link Self 1 behaviours (outbursts, anger, anxiety and tension) to a reduction in performance (lack of focus and an increase in mistakes).