Extra Inning Softball has partnered with former DI softball coach Julie Jones (Akron, Cleveland State) and current Mental Performance and Mindset Coach to help give athletes, coaches and others in the softball world the “Mental Edge.”
Julie spent 26 years leading Division I softball programs with her mission being simple: to build smarter students, stronger athletes and better people.
Today, she also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Ursuline College teaching well-being and performance, mindset training, athletic coaching and career development courses in both the undergraduate and graduate studies programs.
Continuing her work of helping student-athletes reach their goals on and off the field, Julie regularly sends Mindset Made Simple Tips to players and coaches across the country as well as posting them on her site, SSB Performance
She explains:
“Mental training is such an important part of the game, and as a former DI coach I know how hard it is to fit the mental part of the game into training. I hope that sharing this information will help athletes improve performance by strengthening their mindset, routines, focus, etc.”
Today, she shares with us her ideas on the importance of how our posture is important in not just how we look, but also in how we perform!
You can also WATCH Julie give the key points of this topic in this video she loaded on YouTube…
*****
Mindset Made Simple Tip #50: Strike a Pose! How Our Posture Can Enhance Our Performance”
I’m not a minivan mom. However, there are times a minivan comes in handy. As I was loading up our SUV to head to a softball camp we ran the other day, I came upon one of those times. Our SUV looks great, but it is worthless for camp equipment! Fortunately, my dad came to the rescue and I borrowed his Papa van!
My dad was one of those guys who went nuts when you touched the inside of the windows when we were kids. His cars were clean, inside and out.
Well, it appears that times have changed, and I didn’t even realize it. The van always looks clean. But when I started loading it up, I realized that it was a MESS on the inside.
How we look… on the inside
This got me thinking about how we portray ourselves to the outside world. If you didn’t know any better, you would think my dad was still that guy who put the fear of God into any kid riding in his van about messing up the windows, etc. But the truth of it is, someone eats a lot of doughnuts and ice cream in that van and apparently there are no vacuums or wet wipes available!
It looks great on the outside…the part that everyone can see.
It was a mess on the inside…only those who can see inside can see this part!
It is the same with us: NO ONE KNOWS what the inside looks like…what we are thinking or how we feel.
WE NEED TO USE THIS TO OUR ADVANTAGE!
I used this example with two of my soccer teams yesterday who are headed to the national tournament this week as the #4 and #12 teams in the country!
We have been hammering 4Ps of Peak Performance: being PRESENT and POSITIVE, following their PROCESS and, as important as anything…controlling their POSTURE!!
Reminding them that no matter how they feel or what they are thinking, THEY CAN CHOOSE to portray themselves as NATIONAL CHAMPIONS even if they don’t feel like a champion and before they are actually champions!
Our posture makes a HUGE difference…obviously in how we look, but also in how we perform!
*****
How important is our posture?
Research shows that BIG POSTURE or a “power pose” can positively affect our actions and performance.
Amy Cuddy, one of the top TED Talk presenters and author of “Presence: How to Bring Your Best Self to Your Boldest Challenges” gives substance to using posture for performance enhancement.
Our POSTURE and an intentional “power pose” (think standing like Super Man or Wonder Woman…or simply use that big beautiful smile with your chest full, shoulders back and standing tall)…can impact how we feel and how we project our presence to others and can influence how others perceive us!
BIG POSTURE exudes confidence, control, power and strength…even if we feel like Minnie Mouse as opposed to Wonder Woman!
We already know that smiling changes the chemicals in our brain for the better. BIG POSTURE or “power poses” do too!
This simple act can increase testosterone and decrease cortisol, so we feel more dominant and less stressed! These hormones enhance our feelings of confidence, assertiveness and competitiveness and prime us for positive performance!
No matter how messy we feel on the inside, choosing BIG POSTURE with a little POWER POSE prior to performance allows us to let others do what we do best as humans – judge the book by its cover – or a van by its clean rims and exterior.
How we carry ourselves affects how others react to us.
*****
Look like a champion, act like a champion and others are more likely to treat you like a champion!
A car just run through just run through the car wash is no cleaner on the inside than the one who just parked by a dusty softball field – BUT ITS EXTERIOR LOOKS GOOD, SO WE ASSUME IT IS CLEAN.
A performer who is standing tall, shoulders back, hands on hips…even if it’s just for just a few seconds before heading to the batter’s box, the PK, the foul line or the sales meeting… is signaling to his or her brain and everyone around that – I’m powerful and confident, regardless of what may really be going on inside!
So next time you feel a little messy on the inside as you approach an important event, as my old favorite, Madonna would say, “strike a pose” and use those power-producing and stress-reducing hormones to prime you for peak performance!
Here’s to acting powerful to perform better!
Julie Jones
To learn more from Julie check out her social media sites below; to contact her personally, she can be reached via email at: juliej@ssbperformance.com
SSB Performance
Website: www.ssbperformance.com
Facebook: /ssbperformance
Twitter: @SSBMindset
Instagram: /ssbperformance
