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PEAK PERFORMANCE
QUALITIES
Individuals who demonstrate peak performance in sports
and in business follow a set of mental processes that
allow them to produce excellent results consistently.
These Peak Performance strategies translate into a specific
set of mental skills. Learning these skills increases
effectiveness and enhances performance.The Performance
Sciences have discovered cutting-edge information about
increasing human performance. There are key mental strategies
that lead to top performance across the fields of sports,
business, and the arts.Through training on these mental
characteristics, individuals can accelerate their development
and increase their performance.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TOP PERFORMANCE
To discover what makes some people top achievers a two-step
process is used. The first step is examining champions
and other top performers to identify the characteristics
associated with high performance. The second step involves
setting up training procedures and programs to teach people
how to develop these traits. High performance sports psychology
is training for maximizing human performance. This training
opens up the possibility of tapping more of our human
potential, recruiting more of our capacity.This area of
Peak Performance shows you how to eliminate mental barriers
and develop mental strengths to increase your competitive
edge.
GAIN A MENTAL EDGE
To perform at a level that matches their potential, athletes
need to understand their mental strengths and weaknesses.
Consistency in performance, rate of athletic development,
and the joy and sense of achievement from athletic performance
and competition are enhanced by awareness of mental strengths
and weaknesses.
DEVELOP YOUR MENTAL STRENGTHS
Shoring up the mental factors that are weaker and developing
and capitalizing on mental strengths assist athletes in
performing closer to their potential.
GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE
Self-confidence is closely related to success in competition.
Self-confidence has to do with a sense of self-efficacy,
a feeling of one's effectiveness or ability to do something.
With confidence, individuals take more risks and have
higher expectations for success.Self-confidence is a can-do
feeling. It is a sense of believing in yourself and in
your ability. You can learn to be more self-confident.
Confidence is a learnable skill!
LEARN HOW TO HANDLE FAILURE AND DISAPPOINTMENT
Self-confidence is a belief that you can be
successful and an expectation that you will be successful.
The perception of failure can undermine confidence. Difficult
losses and disappointing performances can affect self-confidence.
The erosion of self-confidence affects the performance
of athletes across levels of talent and experience. Don't
let this happen to you. Learn to deal with errors and
losses the way peak performers do! Treat the error or
loss as a learning experience. Direct your mind toward
the correction. Use the energy of the experience to spur
you to do better and better.Visualization Exercises for
Mental Preparation, a CD-ROM for PC's and McIntosh, shows
you how to deal with problem and pressure situations.
You can use the recovery method shown on the CD to overcome
problem situations that can arise during competition.
GAIN CONTROL OVER NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
Control over negative emotions is vital for
individuals seeking peak performance. Control over negative
emotions refers mainly to control over the emotions of
fear and anger.These two primary negative emotions of
anger and fear can operate in varying levels of strength.
For example, feelings related to anger might be frustration,
irritation, anger, and rage. With fear, the early or mild
levels of this emotion may be worry and concern, then
fear, anxiety, and panic.Emotions tend to escalate or
build. Awareness of the fact that one is feeling fear
increases the feeling of fear. In this way negative emotions
can operate on a negative spiral. Difficult and demanding
situations can trigger strong negative emotions. Competitions
with unforeseen problems and difficulties can lead to
negative feelings.
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS DETRACT FROM PERFORMANCE
Negative emotions work against the athlete.
The negative impact of these emotions is especially true
for sports and positions in sports that require fine motor
movement. They produce tension, concentration loss and
inconsistent performances. A significant challenge for
the athlete is learning to control these emotions.Peak
performers can control negative emotions. Instead of seeing
problems as threatening, they see them as challenging.
The athlete who spends time in performance and in competitions
experiencing emotions of fear, frustration, and anger
can change that experience. You can learn to handle difficult
and problematic situations.Learn the methods that lead
to peak performance. The book, Focus
Under Pressure, in the book section has more information
on developing control over negative emotions and directing
the mind toward performance skills and success.
Back To Top
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Visualization
Visualization is the master skill among the peak performance qualities.
Best of all, you can learn how to visualize like top performers. |
Concentration
Concentration is the ability to direct your full attention. The ability
to concentrate directly affects an athlete’s performance level. |
Motivation
What coaches call desire or drive, motivation is a key to high performance.
Peak performers have passionate commitment for excellence. |
Stress
Control
Stress Control is the ability to regulate your physical state of energy
and intensity. With stress control, you can maintain a peak energy
and intensity state that lets you perform at your best, even in pressure
situations. |
Relaxation
Relaxation is the antidote for too much stress. Relaxation is a learnable
skill. Peak Performers know how to relax. |
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