“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. Its helping them, rather than teaching them”
Ever heard of the term performance coach?..If not, its ok. It is a relatively new term. As a performance coach, my objective is to help my clients achieve their goals, and perform at the highest level possible.
Often times the word “performance” is reserved strictly for high level athletes, but when you think about it, we all have an expectation to “perform” every day. Whether at work, school, or the gym, we all have certain tasks or roles that we are expected to fulfill.
In order to perform at your best, you need a strategy. This can’t be something you haphazardly attempt to do. You need a plan and I’m here to give it to you.
Strengthen Your Mental Game
Lets take look at some of the greatest performers in sports history. Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Muhammed Ali, Tiger Woods (pre-sleaze ball tiger)…What did these guys all have in common? Mental toughness.
Mental toughness is the ability to be resilient through adverse situations. These guys were able to perform to their peak during very stressful situations. Whether it be with 30 seconds left in the 4th quarter, or a facing a 15 foot put to win The Masters, these guys consistently rose to the occasion. And why were they able to overcome these challenges and succeed? Perception.
Their ability to perceive adverse challenges not as threats, but obstacles. Cognitive behavioral theory states that “the way an individual perceives a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself”….So the next time an event challenges you, take a breath, face it, and take it head on.
Define What Performance Means to You
Performance isn’t just limited to elite athletes. We are all performers every single day. Whether it be at work, or at home with the kids, we are all expected to assume a certain role and perform that role to the best of our abilities. That is why it’s key to define what performance means to you.
If performance means being able to coach your sons little league team, then you better be the in the gym making sure you can still hit little Johnny some wicked ground balls. Performance is subjective to the individual, and the reason for it should be compelling and significant. Goal setting would also be a good start. Find the reason(s) why your need to perform at your best, and base everything else off that.
Do Exercises That Transfer
In the field of sports performance, there is a concept called transfer of training. This concept basically analyzes which exercises transfer to various tasks in athletics such as sprinting and jumping. Certain exercises have more transfer than others. For example, out of the following exercises, which one do you suspect has a greater transfer to sprinting?
A. Bicep Curl
B. Lunge
Hmm…If you guessed B then congratulations!…A lunge is significantly more functional for sprinting, than a bicep curl. The same concept can be applied to everyday people, who do everyday physical activities. Such as lifting furniture, or hiking. Training with compound lifts such as lunges, squats, and deadlifts are going to improve your performance in those tasks and have a much greater transfer to your everyday activities.
Use Food as Fuel
Food doesn’t just play a huge role in appearance, it plays a huge roll in performance as well. Use food as fuel for you day. Avoid heavy, processed foods that can make you fatigued and decrease your energy levels. Foods such as salmon, and greens can not only give you energy, but increase you focus throughout the day.
If you looking for a supplement to give you an extra boost and you’ve read my previous posts on the topic, then you know what a big fan of Lion’s Mane powder. My favorite brand is Om Organic mushroom powder (pictured below).
In order to create the lives we want, every day counts. As a former athlete, I know performance greatly depends on the game plan. You have a strong plan, and you’ll likely have a strong result.
You now have a strong game plan….So the only thing left is to play. Take action, become your OWN performance coach, and be the best performer you can!
