Performance Strategies to be a Blue Head Under Pressure

On this episode, Anne and I discuss strategies that can be used for handling pressure, especially during athletic competitions. We use Chapter Nine titled “Pressure” from James Kerr’s book titled Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About The Business of Life.

Here are some of the things Anne and I discuss on this episode:

1. What does it mean to control your attention? Do we really get to pick what we think about?
2. When do we feel pressure in our everyday lives? How do we handle it?
3. There is a story of a blown lead for New Zealand’s National Rugby Team. It’s a team that won the 1987, 2011, and 2015 World Cups and has a 76% winning percentage. The team is often mentioned as one of the greatest teams of any sport.
4. Can you think of any big sports chokes? Can you remember any times you have choked?
5. What do we think are the most pressurized moments in sports?

Be a Blue Head and Not a Red Head under pressure:

• Red Head: Tight, inhibited, results-oriented, anxious, aggressive, over-compensating, desperate.
• Blue Head: Loose, expressive, in the moment, calm, clear, accurate, on task.

The Trigger Section:

• Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic triggers
• What do they mean, anchor?
• Maps such as a schematic (diagram), words, phrases, or mantras
• The Rule of Three for example Assess, Adjust, Act or Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.
• Clear Thought, Clear Talk, Clear Task

Two books you might want to check out: (I am not an affiliate)

• James Kerr’s book Legacy that sparked today’s conversation.
• My novel Love on the Big Screen.

Thanks for checking out the podcast!