Today, we would like to share three key mental game strategies identified by NBA sport psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach. In his decades of work with world-class athletes, he analyzed three of the most important mental techniques that successful athletes use, and we’ve included them below.
Technique 1: Add Some Fixed Mindsets to Your Growth Mindset.
This might sound counterintuitive. A “growth mindset,” the idea that you are not limited in your capacity to expand and develop intelligence, has become a cultural phenomenon in recent years. While this approach is key for learning, we have villainized the “fixed mindset” in the process of celebrating the growth mindset. Yet interestingly, elite performers have fixed mindsets about their exceptional abilities. In other words, great athletes see their incredible talent as unchangeable. This type of fixed-mindset maintains self-confidence and is a powerful tool when paired with a growth mindset that promotes risking failure and tackling new challenges.
Technique 2: Stress Boosts Performance.
The typical athlete dislikes stress and avoids it. This is a natural human response; But stand-out athletes don’t just manage stress, they use it to their advantage. Take a sprinter for example. When faced with pre-race anxiety, an average sprinter might become anxious about the anxiety, and spiral into fear and self-doubt. In contrast, a mentally strong sprinter will embrace the anxiety and use the adrenaline surge to maximize speed and alertness.
Technique 3: Recovery is Essential.
Top tier performers take rest seriously and view it as a critical component of training.. Getting quality sleep, taking days off, and adopting self-care practices are essential long-term investments. Lebron James is a perfect example of an athlete with this mindset. Next NBA season, he will break the record for the longest NBA career, and he is still one of the best NBA players even in his 40s. It’s no coincidence that he is also notorious for his emphasis on recovery.
Now try these mindsets and as Dr. Auerbach says, “activate your greatness!”