People think training your mindset—or focusing on your mental outlook as it can help you perform competitively—is only for sports. Actually, it’s for anyone who wants high performance. W ith sports, though, we can watch that performance in real time. We see it on the field and on the court. We can see the effort. We can see resilience. We see a team’s ability to communicate effectively and their ability to work together. We see their ability to execute and their desire to win.
But sports can teach people at all organizations how to mentally train, prepare, and execute. I’ve spent 22 years in professional sports, first as a professional baseball player and professional baseball manager, and later a mental conditioning consultant to Major League Baseball players and National Football League players. I’ve built out mental conditioning programs for the San Francisco Giants, the Seattle Mariners, and the University of Notre Dame.
Advertisement
The corporate world is a lot more like the sports world than you’d think. They both have a defined purpose and require employees and players alike to embrace their roles, prepare, and execute on said purpose. At ReliaQuest, my cybersecurity company with often high-stakes incidents to address, we take the connection between sports and business performance seriously (we even sponsor a sports bowl in our local Tampa Bay). And there are plenty of ideas that organizations can borrow from the world of sports to improve the performance and well-being of their own employees.
Create your own scoreboard
With sports, it’s obvious who wins and loses: stats don’t lie, and neither does the scoreboard. In business, sometimes we have to be more intentional to define what clear targets look like. But, once you get that, you can really narrow in and focus on the mindset you need to develop to hit those targets. Promoting accountability then gets easier, as does operating with a sense of urgency. That’s how we “score.” Protecting the ball or a company’s assets is vital. Helping our teammates and protecting the customers that we serve is a huge win, and is a huge motivator for future progress.
On my team, we use mindset moments to take score, be present, and to focus on the task at hand. We do this at the beginning of all team meetings. It’s an opportunity for leadership or anyone for that matter, to set the stage by introducing a mindset principle, telling a personal story, and then asking questions to see how it resonates with others. It’s a time for our teammates to be open and vulnerable if they want, promoting psychological safety and connection, which all great teams have. For us, it’s created a more proactive company environment that’s more conducive to its people.
Develop a mental-prep routine
How do you deal with failure? It’s the nature of the job, right? Rejection shows up a lot. Everything that goes along with the product—from building it to selling it—is a process that can be overwhelming. Having the ability to focus on literally one step at a time, one day at a time is vital. A mental prep and readiness routine can help people feel ready for anything and everything.
Advertisement
In baseball, a game averages 280 pitches thrown—but its outcome is determined by only 8-12 of them. Players have to treat every pitch with the same importance, just like employees need to treat every incident with the same readiness. In our own operations center setting, for example, we encourage employees to develop a mental-prep routine that helps them lock in and treat every ticket that comes through like it’s supreme. Specifically, I help them identify the three steps in this process: get control of yourself, develop a sound plan, and commit to executing.
Build resilience with your support network
When watching sports, a lot of times all we see are the athletes on the field. We don’t see the strength and conditioning coach, the assistant coach that worked with a player before the game, the nutritionist that helped set up the meal plan, or the athletic trainer that helped prepare teammates to play that day. We don’t see the entire team.
Resilience is built from the full support network in sports—and in business. This support gives our people the power to react and respond to achieve the business’s desired outcomes. All organizations need to invest in similar networks that give employees the tools they need to thrive and perform, such as mentorship opportunities, generous benefits, and access to mental health support. A strong mindset that cultivates a strong culture is the winning combination.
Performing like a pro
M y work in sports and business led me to realize success is achievable in both with the right growth mindset. It can help individuals and teams overcome obstacles; it can help develop new skills and accept new challenges. It also offers an opportunity to run toward new opportunities and new ways of doing things to achieve maximum performance.
Advertisement
Derin McMains is the director of mental performance at ReliaQuest.
How training your mindset like an athlete can help your career
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer