This weekend marked the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. I watched a variety of events and, like the rest of the country, I was in awe of the many young athletes competing their hearts out. The positive energy and sheer desire to win was evident in every competitor—as was the heartbreaking sadness of defeat.
The impulse to create teams and win seems to be universal and it exists in almost every activity we participate in. Obviously, this applies just as much to the business world. When it comes to free-market economics, competition is very healthy and drives pricing strategy and revenues in a fierce push for market share and, ultimately, profits. Simply stated, competition motivates businesses to do better, and without it, businesses, and the teams that comprise them, lose not only their pricing power, but also their “compete-acuity.”
Recently, I came across an article by Jack J. Lesyk, Ph.D., from the Ohio Center for Sport Psychology titled, “The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes.” As I read through each of the nine skills, I found them not only to be necessary to win in sports, but also necessary to win in the boardroom. They are basic on the surface, but oh so important in driving success, so much so that I thought them all worthy of sharing with each of you. Here is Lesyk’s ranking, starting with No. 9:
- Maintain concentration.
- Manage emotions effectively.
- Manage anxiety effectively.
- Use positive mental imagery.
- Use positive self-talk.
- Deal effectively with people.
- Set high, realistic goals.
- Maintain a high level of self-motivation.
- Choose and maintain a positive attitude.
As always, keeping your glass half full is what keeps each of us resilient.
Stay positive—your gold medal is out there!
