Elite athletes encounter many of the same mental challenges
that successful entrepreneurs face on a daily basis, according to JoAnn
Dahlkoetter, a sports and performance psychologist in San Carlo, Calif. She
should know. In addition to coaching business leaders, Dahlkoetter currently
counts five Olympic gold medallists as her clients. She finds that many of the
same strategies athletes use to outwit mental obstacles work in business as
well. Here's her advice for overcoming three of the most vexing psychological
challenges, whether you're a start up or established entrepreneur looking to
grow.
Challenge No. 1 -
Negative thinking. Slumps happen in athletics, business, and life. Start
asking positive questions when you find yourself thinking: I'm not good enough.
I can't do this. Nothing is going right. Try: What's good about this situation?
What tools and resources do I need to move in the direction I want to go?
Asking yourself better questions can help you move forward. Perhaps the big
client you lost wasn't the best fit anyway, and now you have the bandwidth to
service a bigger, better customer. The more you actively turn around negative
thinking, the easier it gets to see opportunities in adversity, Dahlkoetter
says.
Challenge No. 2 -
Exhaustion. Just as athletes experience injuries and burnout, even the most
resilient business owners can get fatigued from putting so much into their
businesses. In addition to the sage advice of eating healthfully and getting
enough sleep, Dahlkoetter says it's critical to plan breaks ranging from a few
hours where you disconnect to a few days away. If that's not possible, take a
"mental vacation." Get to a place where you'll be uninterrupted for
five or 10 minutes. Breathe deeply and visualise yourself relaxing in a
beautiful setting, like at the beach. Sound weird? Research has long shown the
positive effects of meditation on stress levels and health. In fact, a new
study from the University of Washington found that regular meditation can
increase concentration and make you more productive.
Challenge No. 3 -
Fear. During the Olympic Games, a decade or more of preparation and
training can lead to a single competition. Entrepreneurs have that kind of
pressure when they encounter business-threatening obstacles or setbacks. When
fear becomes paralysing, you've got to go back to the basics, Dahlkoetter says.
"Remind yourself of the skills and talents that got you to the level of
success where you are now," she says. "Visualise yourself having the
outcome you want over and over and over again." Then, focus on the moment.
Don't think about the past or worry about the future. Instead, determine the
very next thing you have to do to get the outcome you want. If you're worried
about closing a big deal, make a list of the tasks that will give you the best
possible advantage--studying competitors' strengths and weaknesses, writing a winning
proposal, polishing your presentation--and then tackle those to-dos one by one.
Taking positive action is a strong way to dissolve fear, she says.
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