Coach's Corner
Tips from Leo Totten

Power Motivation
01.1999

I recently started getting a publication from the Australian Coaching Council called SPORTS COACH that has some tremendous insights into many aspects of coaching from their point of view. One of the articles in particular was worth bringing to you. The article is called "Power Motivation Techniques" and is written by Jeff Hodges from the Sportsmind International Institute for Human Performance Research. I think the article is designed for coaches, but the thoughts can be equally applied from a coach's standpoint as well as the athletes.

What is Motivation? Simply, it is an energy to do, to accomplish.

Two types of motivation: negative and positive

Negative: form of motivation that moves you away from a negative happening or experience - moving you away from something you don't want to happen. Often, it comes from an external source with the threat of some kind of punishment if you don't do something.

Example: a teacher says you must have the assignment done OR you will get detention. Or a coach shouting that you SHOULD concentrate harder or you'll never make the team.

Positive: form of motivation that moves you toward a positive happening or experience, moving you toward something you do want to happen.

Example: someone working out at the gym four times a week because they LIKE the way they look or because they WANT to succeed at their next competition.

Negative motivation can result in excessive anxiety and tension, while positive motivation tends too positively energize and arouse you. Negative motivation causes you to think about what you don't want, while positive motivation gets you focused on what you do want. WE MOVE TOWARD WHAT WE THINK ABOUT so it's important to imagine and picture what we want rather that what we don't.

How do you communicate? Pay attention to the words and images you use when you're motivating yourself or others. How do you communicate, with what type of words to achieve motivation? If you're saying to yourself things like, "I have to go to training today", or "I've got to improve my strength levels", then you're using a negative motivation strategy which is not as effective as positive. Positive motivation grows out of desire and wanting, not from shoulds, have tos, oughts and must. Stop and deliberately say to yourself, "I want" to do something, not "I must". Practice this technique.

Motivating others: In order to be most effective in motivating others, first state what you don't want and then state what you do want - in the same sentence. Sequence is important.

Example: If I were giving instructions to a football team for defense, I could say:

This time, let's start aggressively and maintain concentration throughout the game. No missed tackles, fumbles or sloppy passing.

OR

This time, no missed tackles, fumbles or sloppy passing. Let's start aggressively and maintain concentration throughout the entire game.

The second statement is better because you are made aware of what to avoid and then given a positive direction or goal at the end (which is what remains most clearly in your mind.)

By the way, even better yet, try: This time, make every tackle, hold on to the ball and pass accurately. Let's start aggressively and maintain concentration throughout the entire game.

This sentence deletes any negativity at all!

"Talking to you and others" is an important skill that must be practiced and learned to get the most out of you and to motivate yourself for peak performance. It might sound like a "little" thing, but COMMUNICATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!