I talk a lot with athletes and coaches about the importance and power of self-reflection in performance environments to help us review our experiences effectively and move forward to the next challenge.
One of the main things to note is that sport is results and outcome driven. But, You can’t control your results or the outcome. So, when reflecting we need to focus on our approach, processes, and performance during the match, tournament or competition. Have you made smart decisions based on what you are aiming to achieve and the goals you have set for yourself?
Positives first…
Celebrate the good things you have done, even if on this occasion they didn’t bring you the result you wanted.
We know in life you will win and you will lose so focus on your processes, doing your best and enjoying the experiences along the way.
How can you improve…
This is the tough question, but it’s important to own it, and look at it objectively. Once you put it down on paper, you don’t need to over-analyse it.
You simply need to see if you can identify the root cause, but then more importantly, identify some specific ways to improve.
Brainstorm here and let your imagination run wild. The key is to quickly shift to “how” questions, don’t keep asking “why?”
One step at a time…
The temptation is to come up with a really long list of things that you want to improve.
Just pick a few you really care about and add them to your bag of tricks.
Test them next week and get feedback on to work with
The idea is to learn and improve, not beat yourself up, or wallow in pity.
How can you consistently build reflection in to your routine?
I recommend adding a reminder to your calendar and blocking off time for it.
If you don’t, it’s easy to forget to do it. If you schedule it, it will happen, and it’s one of the simplest ways to improve your results every week.