"How can I improve my performance?".
This is not just a question for one type of performer but for all humans in all performance areas. Essentially, the question is better phrased as "How can I improve my thinking?" During the workshop, I explored how performers can think differently to improve their overall standard of play. Practical suggestions on how this is to be achieved were also examined starting with revisiting a common misconception..
A Common Misconception
When I ask performers what the difference is between their playing and a performer who is perceived to be at the next level or more consistent, one answer features more frequently than any other. The response is that: the perceived better player hits much better shots. To put this another way, they feel that the best performance at the next level (the seemingly better performer) is much better than their best performance. The performer therefore concludes that they need to improve their best performance and sets about trying to do so.
Intuitively, this thinking appears logical and therefore most people would not challenge it. However, this kind of thinking leads to a false, or at best a premature, conclusion - namely that:.
In order to improve your performance you need to improve your best level.
It is not about improving your best performance
I often begin consultancies by challenging this upside down thinking. I explain that a performance is not often improved by making your best performance even better. There is seldom much room for raising the bar on your very best game when starting to improve your overall game. In other words, trying to improve the length of your drive by a few yards is difficult, time consuming and ultimately has very little impact on your handicap. Instead, attention should be focussed on raising the bar on your worst round.
As we all know, our worst performances feel like they leave a bigger dent in our confidence than our best performances can boost it.
Over time, focussing on raising the level of your worst performances will act to enhance your confidence. By focusing on making your worst performance better, you will improve the consistency with which you are able to perform overall. Gradually, you will remove the fear of performing badly because you will reduce the amount of times this happens as well as the severity of the impact when it does.
A practical example of raising your worst performance
Peter is an 18 handicap golfer who has set a goal for 2016 to reduce his handicap by three shots. When Peter plays his best, he knows he can shoot as low as 14 over par. However, Peter frequently makes risky decisions when playing. He does not like playing a cautious shot and this frequently leads to a big score on at least two holes every round. Despite this knowledge, Peter feels that he will improve his handicap by hitting his best shots a greater distance and practices with this goal in mind. However, there is not much opportunity for Peter to hit the ball further without significant technical improvements. Instead, Peter will benefit greatly from improving his decision making which will consistently result in lower scores.
The first step in improving your performance: Make sure it's not getting worse!
Essentially, performers can start to raise the bar on their worst performance so that it does not ruin their chances of a future performance improvement. At the same time, they will reduce the number of times they play badly brought about by greater confidence in knowing that their worst performance will happen less often with clearer thinking.
The next time you are thinking about how you can improve your performance level, in whatever area that may be, begin by taking a step back from your present thinking about how it can be improved. With the right guidance from a psychologist, you may notice that an emphasis on your worst performance can reap higher rewards for your best performance than you may ever have dreamed of.
Enjoy your next round!.