Mind Games

What makes a winner - in business or in sport? Why do some people consistently break sales targets, cross the line first or hammer the ball in the net with pinpoint accuracy? Natural talent and disciplined training are vital. But with two equally matched professionals, something else makes the difference that provides that extra, champion factor: the mind. Mind Games looks into the mental processes of sporting stars, identifying the attitudes and approaches that enable them to achieve peak performance, every time, and applies them specifically to the world of business. What are the key mental characteristics that make some people come out on top? How do winners channel adrenalin into controlled power while losers choke? What do sportsmen and women mean when they talk about 'the inner game', being 'in the zone' or being 'in the now'? What is it that coaches do to realise the potential they see? What are the lessons that business winners need to learn from sport's superstars? Mind Games has the full involvement of over 30 sporting household names, including Sven-Goran Eriksson, Matthew Pinsent, Clive Woodward, Nick Faldo, Jonny Wilkinson. The authors draw on extensive first-hand experiences of acknowledged sporting champions across a range of sports, identifying personal techniques proven to have worked under the pressure of top-level competition. They also draw on the expertise of professional coaches and psychologists who have worked with sportsmen and women.

What makes a winner - in business or in sport? Why do some peopleconsistently break sales targets, cross the line first or hammerthe ball in the net with pinpoint accuracy? Natural talent anddisciplined training are vital. But with two equally matchedprofessionals, something else makes the difference that providesthat extra, champion factor: the mind.Mind Games looks into the mental processes of sporting starsidentifying the attitudes and approaches that enable them toachieve peak performance, every time, and applies them specificallyto the world of business. What are the key mental characteristicsthat make some people come out on top? How do winners channeladrenalin into controlled power while losers choke? What dosportsmen and women mean when they talk about 'the inner game'being 'in the zone' or being 'in the now'? What is it that coachesdo to realise the potential they see? What are the lessons thatbusiness winners need to learn from sport's superstars?Mind Games has the full involvement of over 30 sporting householdnames, including Sven-Goran Eriksson, Matthew Pinsent, CliveWoodward, Nick Faldo, Jonny Wilkinson. The authors draw onextensive first-hand experiences of acknowledged sporting championsacross a range of sports, identifying personal techniques proven tohave worked under the pressure of top-level competition. They alsodraw on the expertise of professional coaches and psychologists whohave worked with sportsmen and women.

Foreword by Sir Clive Woodward OBE viiAbout the Authors ixAcknowledgements xiIntroduction 1Part I: Personality Power 7Chapter 1: True Grit 9Chapter 2: I Believe! 23Chapter 3: Positive Power 35Analysis I: Personality Power 45Part II: Motivational Matters 53Chapter 4: The Success Magnet 55Chapter 5: Fleeing Failure 65Chapter 6: Goals Galore 71Analysis II: Motivational Matters 85Part III: Mental Training 93Chapter 7: Mental Rehearsal 95Chapter 8: Anchors and Triggers 109Chapter 9: Preparing for Pressure 117Chapter 10: Review and Revise 133Chapter 11: Coaching Relationships 145Analysis III: Mental Training 157Part IV: Peak Performance 171Chapter 12: Nerve Control 173Chapter 13: The Rock of Routine 185Chapter 14: Positive Talk 193Chapter 15: Into the Zone 203Chapter 16: Focus and Refocus 213Analysis IV: Peak Performance 229Part V: Team Spirit 243Chapter 17: The Right Combination 245Chapter 18: Team Build-up 255Chapter 19: Team Talks 267Analysis V: Team Spirit 275Index 283