Mental Toughness
August 21, 2024
Find your edge.
by Toni Delos Santos
90% Mental
90percentmental.com
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“Success at anything will always come down to this: Focus and Effort, and we control both.”
– Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson
The definition of mental toughness from the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology is, having the natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to: generally, cope better than your opponents with the many demands (competition, training, lifestyle) that sport places on a performer; specifically, be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined, focused, confident, and in control under pressure.” In business, mental toughness is what separates the high performers and top experts in their field.
Competition
Competition is the fuel that drives us to be our absolute best and win. Leaders look for employees that are driven to succeed and earn the business over their competitors.
Training
High achievers will research the competition. By doing this, they will be able to prepare their strategies according to their companies’ strengths and be able to show why they are the best choice.
Determined
When someone is driven, they are very resilient and will keep learning from each loss and figure out what is needed to win at the next opportunity.
Performing Under Pressure
Confidence and consistency come from being prepared. When you know that you have put 100% effort into your training, it is game time! Having the same approach before you begin a big meeting or presentation is key. It involves pre-game strategies, such as, visualization, deep breathing, and strong body language. These tools will help to clear to mind and allow you to consistently perform your best.
Lifestyle
Staying focused with all the twists and turns that life has to offer can be challenging. Maintaining a good balance between work and social life is important. It is vital to compartmentalize the different areas of your life. When you are working be all in and when you are at home, be all in with our family. This will keep your relationships healthy and avoid burnout.
Mental toughness is not something that is built into your DNA. It is a skill that is developed by practicing all the strategies. There are so many talented athletes and intelligent people that never reach the top levels that they desire. They know they have more skill or knowledge but never seem to get the win when the game is on the line. The difference lies in the amount of time they spend on mental training to able to have the confidence to perform under pressure and enjoy the accomplishments that will follow!
