I previously posted a review of the book Do Hard Things, by Steve Magness. I also shared some of Magness’ views on Developing tough players and teams in a different post. Another way people think of mental toughness is in terms of being clutch. Magness wrote about that as well, making the argument that being clutch isn’t innate, but rather trainable. He suggests there are five characteristics.
- Appraisal of the situation as a challenge – This is as opposed to seeing it as a threat
- A fixed goal – A clear focus on the desired outcome (not the process)
- Complete and deliberate focus – Attention narrows to only what really matters
- Deciding to increase effort and intensity – Flipping the switch
- Perceived control – If we feel we don’t have control, motivation fades
Think about how we can work with our athletes on each of these items.
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