Did you know that during every game of his NBA career, Michael Jordan wore his college shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls shorts? Moreover, a reporter once asked baseball great Tony Gwynn the secret to his success at the plate. He replied, “Mentally, when you step up there, whether you hit 
the guy well or not, you’ve got to have the look of being the baddest guy on earth.” Well, it looks like there is a secret magic in the head. As a matter of fact, there is and scientific studies have proven so. One such study published in Frontiers in Psychology discovered that telling yourself “I can do better”, can cause you to do better at a given task.
I became interested in the science of psyching yourself up after I read Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed by Daniel McGinn. McGinn’s book provides detailed examples of how athletes, business leaders, and everyday people using simple techniques to reach their peak performance. I’d like to share three techniques that I found effective.
Create a Ritual – Before every important presentation or speech I give, I recite five challenging tongue twisters which help me focus on my dictation and it ensures my message resonates with my audience. Serena Williams must bounce the ball five times before her first serve, then twice before her second serve. Rituals provide a slight sense of control when facing the unknown. Thomas Newmark, MD, the president of the International Society of Sports Psychiatrists, puts it this way, “Rituals, lucky charms, and superstitions give you little things you can control. It’s something you can do that is familiar and soothing that can help you control anxiety … and to that end, maybe perform better.” The importance of a ritual cannot be underestimated.
Learn to Relax – The body does peculiar things when it’s stressed. Your heart races, your breath quickens, and your muscles tighten. This isn’t exactly what you want when you’re giving an important speech or pitching a new idea. McGinn suggests that we channel our fears into excitement. Dawn Fletcher of Puori.com sheds light on the approach, “If you view your feelings as negative and threatening, it will clearly hurt your performance or ability to act confidently. Instead, put a positive spin on it…. the feeling is not anxiety but rather excitement. Decide that it’s going to be fun, an adventure and that your nerves are a good thing that energize you and help you do your best.”
The Right Music – Have you ever noticed that every Major League batter has what’s called walk-up music? Every time a batter for the Houston Astros approaches the plate, the stadium DJ plays a pre-selected song for him. The song fires the batter up and improves his chances of a hit. Anyone who exercises on a regular basis probably has a “work-out” playlist. You know a list of songs that pump you up. McGinn recommends you find the right music to help you accomplish less glamorous, but important tasks. You know, like the dreaded monthly report you must submit or that presentation you’ve been working on for days. No matter what it is, the right music can have a positive impact on your performance. By the way, Trap Music only works in the gym. You may not want to try it at work.
So, there you have it! A few examples on how to reach your peak performance by psyching yourself up. I’m curious to know which one you’ll employ. Maybe you’ll play Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean as you step to the whiteboard at your next staff meeting. Either way, stay psyched my friend.
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