Emotional Intelligence skills are the tools athletes depend on to perform under pressure.
Research studies have highlighted Emotional Intelligence is key to building wellbeing which in turn builds the optimal mindset for sports performance.
Emotional Intelligence allows us to recognize, understand and label our emotional mindset, helping us to regulate our emotional state in the 'heat of the game'.
Emotions can interfere with our ability to perform. In high pressure environments there are a lot of interferences, such as, expectations of our coaches, expectations from our parents as well as our expectations of ourselves.
Success in sport doesn't happen by chance. Athletes use tools like coping mechanisms to create the best mindset to help them manage the pressures in the 'heat of the game'.
Being aware of our emotions can help us to understand what emotions are serving us or are interfering with our ability to perform.
Emotions drive behaviour and behaviour influences results. Developing self-control helps you manage your emotions so that your actions are positively rather than negatively impacted. Ensuring your behaviour is helpful when under pressure will help you perform at your peak.
Research over the years has shown that optimism is the number 1 predictor of success in sport and beyond. But why is that? It’s because it’s a key element of mental toughness - it will help you bounce back from setbacks, view situations in a positive way, maintain a positive mood when things get tough, and sense opportunities when others may not see beyond the horizon.
If your confidence is low it’s unlikely you’ll be at your best consistently. Many elite performers say that confidence is the number 1 skill that will help them be at their best when it matters most. It’s also the skill that will help you respect and like yourself as a person. Confidence matters and it matters a lot.
How often have you lost concentration during competition and it has affected your performance? Even the greatest athletes lose focus when under pressure - but most of them have strategies to manage their attention effectively. Turning on your focus engine at the right moments will enable you to perform to your potential more often.
To be a high performer in your sport you can’t just show up and hope that it will happen for you - you need to strive to be your best day in day out. This means having a burning desire to win and get the most out of your ability each and every day. These are key ingredients to success in any walk of life.
A successful team is not just a group of highly talented individuals working together. A successful team doesn’t necessarily need every player to be great but they do need a group of individuals who cooperate, communicate effectively, work hard for each other, and are a cohesive unit.
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