Timothy Gallwey’s “Inner Game of Tennis” came out in 1974 and sparked a revolution in coaching and how athletes should approach improving their performance. Entrepreneurs can use several lessons to improve their personal performance and coach others.
The inner game is about self-mastery. And the path to self-mastery starts with humility because the humble are willing to observe and listen. As Wynton Marsalis observed: “the humble improve.” This is a tough challenge for any entrepreneur. You have to have the courage of your convictions in starting a new business, but you have to be alert to what you can learn by observing and listening to prospects, customers, partners, competitors, employees, and others.
The Usual Way of Learning:
+ Criticize or Judge Past Behavior
+ Tell Yourself to Change, Instructing with Word Commands Repeatedly
+ Try Hard; Make Yourself Do It Right
+ Critical Judgment about Results Leading to Repetition of Process
The Inner Came Way of Learning
+ Observe Existing Behavior
+ Ask Yourself to Change, Programming with Image and Feel. No commands are used.
+ Let it Happen!
+ Nonjudgmental, Calm Observation of the Results: Leading to Continuing Observation of Process until Behavior Is Automatic.
Key points:
Timothy Gallwey’s “Inner Game of Tennis” came out in 1974 and sparked a revolution in coaching and how athletes should approach improving their performance. Entrepreneurs can use several lessons to improve their personal performance and coach others.
The inner game is about self-mastery. And the path to self-mastery starts with humility because the humble are willing to observe and listen. As Wynton Marsalis observed: “the humble improve.” This is a tough challenge for any entrepreneur. You have to have the courage of your convictions in starting a new business, but you have to be alert to what you can learn by observing and listening to prospects, customers, partners, competitors, employees, and others.
The Usual Way of Learning:
+ Criticize or Judge Past Behavior
+ Tell Yourself to Change, Instructing with Word Commands Repeatedly
+ Try Hard; Make Yourself Do It Right
+ Critical Judgment about Results Leading to Repetition of Process
The Inner Came Way of Learning
+ Observe Existing Behavior
+ Ask Yourself to Change, Programming with Image and Feel. No commands are used.
+ Let it Happen!
+ Nonjudgmental, Calm Observation of the Results: Leading to Continuing Observation of Process until Behavior Is Automatic.