As we approach the July 4th goal of getting 70% of the population vaccinated, we continually hear of the benefits of herd immunity. For the health and safety of our country (and humanity, for that matter), I hope we reach our goals!
It wasn’t often prior to COVID that this term was in our weekly vernacular. Sure, we understood herd immunity, but who needed to talk about it or listen to pundits discuss it within and across party lines until achieving it to save lives in this crisis was so important?
Coincidentally, I just read somewhere (and I need to do a better job of making notes at times because I searched high and low for it this morning) that we need to look at implementing mental performance training with those we lead with herd immunity in mind. (It may have been in Selk’s 10 Minute Toughness…or Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed by Rick Wolff…too many books on the mind!).
Wherever it came from, the idea rings true. Herd immunity does not require that EVERYBODY be inoculated, or in this case that 100% of our team buy in to mental performance training. We just need ENOUGH BODIES to buy in. The results can be game-changing!
One of the questions I get most often from coaches when discussing the benefits of implementing a mental performance training plan is “how do we get our team to buy in?”
The truth is…you won’t get it from everyone! (But wouldn’t it be nice if it could be our best players and thought leaders??).
But if you follow the formula I often shared with my team leaders we will go through below, you can get ENOUGH BODIES!
As we have seen through COVID 19, some people just don’t like to be told what to do, even if it is better for them…and or others.
So, let’s look at it this way (I think you will see some similarities to what we have seen over the past year, although the numbers may be a bit off).
Forty percent of those you lead will be with you because they believe in what you are doing or just choose to do the right thing based on program philosophy and expectations.
Forty percent could go either way. They can be with you, but aren’t as committed as the first forty.
Twenty percent will NEVER BE WITH YOU, no matter what you do.
So, instead of focusing on that 20% that isn’t into mental training or anything else for that matter (which is what we are wired to do…more on that another time), let’s focus on that middle 40%.
If you believe these numbers to be true, we can say that being immersed in a training program can positively affect almost 80% of your team members if we focus on that middle 40!
THAT IS A HUGE WIN! And we have reached HERD IMMUNTY!
Here are the facts based on research. If you improve your self-talk, meaning you learn to replace non-productive thoughts and internal dialog with productive thoughts and dialog, you can improve your performance by 11%.
What is 11% multiplied by 80% of your team (or even 40% of your team)?
Remember the study about visualization and free throw percentage increases? Athletes improved by 24% by shooting free throws and by 23% by visualizing them!
Imagine your team improving outside of practice by 40 – 80% of them visualizing a few times a week or in a daily practice.
What would your team’s performance look like if 40 – 80% of them could control their breathing, which helps them see better, oxygenate better, be better predictors of action, refocus quicker and control their emotions more effectively?
The teams I work with do a weekly 5 Minute Mindset™ practice that requires them to report back to me at the end of each week with their practices with tools like gratitude, visualization, and a player’s choice which can include work on focus, breathing, meditation or other mental performance practices.
Even if they don’t do these exercises as prescribed, they are thinking about what they should do, explaining to me what they would have done (even if they didn’t actually do it) and benefiting from looking for bright spots, reviewing performances and skills and thinking about how their thinking and behavior affects performance.
The first 40 buy this hook, line and sinker. The 2nd 40 is doing it and moving toward improvements and buy in. And the 20? Well, you know what they are doing!! (Probably complaining about it and looking at the transfer portal 😊).
So, consider the benefits of herd immunity for your team, no matter what you are planning to introduce. And don’t forget the 40-40-20 percentages…and the good ole’ Pareto Principle – the simple fact that 20% of the people make 80% of the impact anyway 😊.
Let’s just hope that 20% is in your 80%...and if they follow the statistics, they will be!
I’d love to help your 80% improve (with the hope that we can shirk that 20% as well…hope springs eternal!).
Reach out and let’s see how we can make herd immunity work for your team’s performance!
Have a great week!
Julie
P.S. No matter what your percentages are, implementing a mental performance training plan can help you get to the top or stay there! I would love to design a program to fit your team’s needs. Let’s set up a time to talk about how we can build your team’s mental toughness. Give me a call or text at 234-206-0946 or send me an email at juliej@ssbperformance.com
Certified Mental Performance & Mindset Coach
SSB Performance
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Be strong and courageous. Joshua 1:9