Inner Game – During the Ryder Cup this year (2018) I was introduced to the work of Timothy Gallwey, and his work is the basis for my coaching philosophy. This prompted me to write an article called The Inner Game (see below) which explains how useful Timonthy Gallweys work can be to a coach and coachee.
Coaching The Inner Game
For a lot of years I have believed there is a link between sports performance and performance in the workplace, and that the potential of a workforce is the greatest asset of any business.
Timothy Gallwey starts with a simple formula that got me interested in what he has to say:
Performance = Potential – Interference
Whether this is used in a sporting environment or in the workplace it doesn’t matter, the formula can be applied as a starting point in either setting to reach top performance.
The outer game is played on an external arena to overcome external obstacles to reach an external goal. The inner game takes place within the mind of the player and is played against such obstacles as fear, self-doubt, lapses in focus, and limiting concepts or assumptions. The inner game is a proven method to overcome the self-imposed obstacles that prevent an individual or team from accessing their full potential.
Sports fans across the world know the name of Tom Brady. To say he had a very successful career as Quarterback in the NFL would be an understatement, but how things could have been so different if he hadn’t addressed the doubts of others, and his own self doubt. This was his Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
Negatives: Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the ’99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you’d like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can’t drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.
Summary: Is not what you’re looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobility, but he has the intangibles and production and showed great Griese-like improvement as a senior. Could make it in the right system but will not be for everyone.
Tom highlighted a passage from The Inner Game of Tennis useful in helping him improve his mental aptitude and overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Theses same issues can prevent people from achieving in the workplace, and can be addressed through good coaching.
The Ryder Cup is about to start, and this is of interest to me personally. For those of you that are golfers I am sure that you will have had a situation where you have been driving long & straight throughout the round but you come to a hole where there is an out of bounds on the right. What happens? You squirt the ball out to the right and hit it out of bounds. This is where Timothy Galloway states that self 1 had interfered with performance. I find this interesting as my golf improved when I played less and became less bothered about playing well. I was more relaxed, enjoy what I was doing, and didn’t worry about bad shots. Self 1 was quiet without me actually knowing.
Video – Inner Golf with Tim Gallwey, how to quiet Self 1 before your next round
Lots of managers think they know how to improve performance by using various techniques to push people, get the best out of people but sometimes this causes more interference. Then as performance dips, they continue the cycle of interference. Imagine a workforce relaxed & focused with self belief against a workforce stressed & panicked? Which workforce is in the best position to reach their potential?
Hopefully this has got people thinking about how to get the best out of themselves initially, and how to get the best out of others. I welcome any comments and further discussion.
