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:
- What does it mean to control your attention? Do we really get to pick what we think about?
- When do we feel pressure in our everyday lives? How do we handle it?
- 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.
- Can you think of any big sports chokes? Can you remember any times you have choked?
- 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!