Most of us can think of at least one athlete we admire. Performance is undoubtedly part of our admiration, but we often admire athletes for other reasons.
Perhaps it’s that they use their platform to advance causes near to our own, or maybe they exhibit character qualities we want to emulate.
Whatever their sport, whether team or solo, the genuinely elite athletes tend to have some common mindsets that are part of how they become elite. Of course, raw talent and endless hours of practice and coaching are involved, but much of their success is built on a “take charge” mindset and proactive behaviors.
In contrast, many less successful people have more passive behaviors and mindsets. They may have talent, intelligence, or other distinctions and gifts, but their passive mindset holds them back. With a passive mindset, people let life happen to them. They may resist taking responsibility for mistakes and often look to others to solve problems or remove obstacles.
Active Thinkers—people who think like athletes—are more productive and have higher self-accountability than Passive Thinkers. Here are four ways to encourage your team toward more of an athlete mindset.
Passive Thinkers tend to shift responsibility to outside forces or look to others to remove obstacles and solve problems. They may say things like “they should fix this” or “what have they done?”
You can help nudge your team toward more active thinking with phrases that keep the power for change on your team. For instance, “that’s really tough—what are you going to do about it?” or “I understand you’re frustrated, so how will you avoid this in the future?” These phrases help remind people that they have the power and authority to take action.
Note that there is still room to acknowledge problems and express empathy. Athlete thinking doesn’t mean becoming a robotic, unemotional automaton. Instead, athlete thinking acknowledges issues and takes authority to act on those problems.
When practicing good habits, we naturally tend to feel more in charge of our lives. Some of these habits are about personal wellbeing, of course, but there are dozens of workplace habits that can promote good active thinking and exhibit mental toughness. For example, if you have a bad habit of being late for meetings or putting off one-on-ones, think through what steps can help you change those habits. Put those steps into place. When your team runs into an obstacle, remaining cool under pressure can reassure your team and model athlete thinking.
Athletes experience setbacks all the time, but those who reach the top of their sports don’t let those setbacks derail their ultimate goals. As Michael Jordan said, “Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” When you or your team experience setbacks, acknowledge them, refocus on the vision, and figure out a new way to achieve that vision.
Don’t be shy about praising employees who exhibit active thinking and behavior—especially when you know it’s been a stretch for that employee. When someone who previously was more passive acts proactively, takes the initiative, or uses active language, call it out.
Elite athletes know they owe much of their success to mindset and behavior rather than raw talent. Certainly, talent is a factor in athletic success, but talented people will never succeed without Active Thinking that pushes them to take charge, overcome obstacles, and push forward. By nudging your team toward more Active Thinking, you’ll create a group of superstars who will propel your organization to long-term success.