Definition:
Mental Performance Training is the practice of mental skills and tools to improve the performance of athletes, coaches, business professionals, performance arts, and first responders.
What are Mental Skills/Tools:
The most common goals of mental training are emotional control, confidence, and motivation. Within these umbrella goals, individuals and groups can apply a variety of tools to develop skills that will improve their cognitive, emotional, and physical performance. These tools can include: journaling, thought stopping, meditation, goal setting, grounding techniques, breathing techniques, visualization, self-talk, routine development, progressive relaxation, leadership development, and self-awareness. When one is dedicated and willing to put in the work, the following skills can be developed: motivation, confidence, attentional focus, emotion regulation, and arousal control.
How does this apply to my area of performance?
In the world of athletics, mental health is becoming more and more discussed and addressed. Within this discussion, Sport Psychology is being used as both preventative and corrective to the issues that many athletes face. From performance anxiety to injury recovery to simply looking for an edge on their competition, these skills and tools can help to create stronger athletes.
Similarly, coaches are required to perform and deal with stressors including pressure, decision making, life balance, and more. Learning to handle these stressors in a healthy way can take the weight off their shoulders and allow for more focus on your coaching.
Business professionals live in a different world of performance. What is required of them is very different from an athlete or coach, yet the skills remain the same. Finding confidence, leadership skills, focus, and arousal control can lead to higher productivity, quicker and better decision making, stronger buy-in from employees, and overall mental and physical health. These skills can often be overlooked in the workplace, but companies such as Tesla, Apple, and Google have been looking at mental performance and personality types as a way to beat out competition.
Skills that can benefit those in performance arts include confidence, arousal control, attentional focus, and motivation. Whether that is to crush an audition, perform in front of a crowd, or practice a set list until it’s perfect. Understanding how to control one’s emotions and arousal levels can help you execute a routine, song, or scene. Finding what your confidence is relying on, can help you tap into it when you need it most.
Finally, first responders can benefit from developing mental skills to be utilized in the high pressure situations that are a standard of their job. Grounding techniques, breath work, and mindfulness can be tools that lead to making the right call, decision, or move when you could easily go into a state of extreme stress and anxiety. Additionally, tools such as communication and support systems can help with the battles that happen after a call.
