Leadership
Being an Effective Leader
Effective leaders can efficiently inspire, motivate and guide their team members. They have an awareness of variants in human behaviour and personality and a thorough knowledge of their environment. Effective leaders possess a thorough understanding of the objectives they aim to accomplish and the steps needed to reach them.
Knowing what motivates different personality types in particular circumstances can be useful. For instance, a reserved person in a confronting situation will be motivated differently to an outgoing person. Also, an adventurous person will problem solve differently to a cautious person experiencing the same challenge.
Thorough knowledge of the environments also impacts one’s ability to lead. Environments vary in their physical demands, sensory affect, political influence, pace, level of cognitive challenge, population, to list a few. Each of these variables affect individuals’ differently.
There are many different types of leaders and although no type is superior to another, some are more effective in certain situations. Leaders therefore need to have an awareness of their leadership type, their strengths and limitations and specific strategies and supports to overcome challenges they may face.
Effective leadership demands reflection, adaptability, and a commitment to growth. Successful leaders create an environment in which individuals’, the team and themselves thrive.
If you are interested in becoming a more effective leader, please be in touch.
Stigma
Stigma
Stigma appears to be decreasing but still exists. Given that the brain is the body’s control center, good mental health has endless benefits. Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness, it is the ability to function well and cope with challenges in a meaningful way.
Help seeking is influenced by positive attitudes of support people, including family, friends and coaches. When significant others’ encourage help seeking and model help seeking behaviours, an individual is more likely to see it as part of having a healthy life. Encouraging early help seeking behaviours can also facilitate ongoing help seeking as needed during different life stages and challenges.
As well as stigmatisation, other barriers to help seeking include: lack of accessibility and knowledge.
Did you know that GP’s are able to make referrals to psychologists which enables patients to claim a portion of the fee via medicare?
Also, many psychologist offer telehealth appointments making services more accessible to people living in rural areas.
Transition stages including: into HSC, new work positions, through changing relationships, into and away from elite sport and changing clubs or competition levels are associated with exposure to mental health risk factors.
If help seeking is an acceptable part of everyday life, then people are more likely to locate the support they need during these times.
Psychologists are not just for when people suffer significant mental health issues, or life challenges. Psychologists help people function to their potential in every day life. Everyone experiences challenges and obstacles and would benefit from reflecting on their coping strategies, resilience, emotional responses and connections.
Repeated injuries
Case study- Repeated injuries
An athlete was referred to a Sport Psychologist with concerns for fluctuating mood, and heavy reliance on exercise for stress management.
The sport psychologist worked with the athlete around
- adjusting to injury and reducing stress,
- developing individually tailored stress management strategies,
- understanding contributing factors.
The impact of future injuries was reduced as they also identified and explored relevant historical, circumstantial and personality factors driving overtraining including perceptions of pressure, perfectionism and desire to meet previous expectations of self and others.
Historical, emotional and psychological factors can contribute to why some people find health related behaviour change so challenging. Effectively exploring those reasons often enables long term change.
Not controlling thoughts and feelings
NOT controlling your thoughts and feelings…
People often talk about trying to control their thoughts and feelings. Interestingly, many aren’t aware that this is near impossible. There are instances when keeping focus on the task at hand is essential, like during a major presentation or performance or when having a pivotal conversation. Attempts to control thoughts and feelings on an ongoing basis, however, can be exhausting. It can even be harmful to well-being, relationships and performance.
A healthier approach is learning which intense feelings to sit with, which ones to address, and how to address them effectively.
Some important first steps may be:
- exploring the origins of thought patterns,
- being able to rate the intensity of discomfort and
- utilising effective relaxation skills when needed.
Knowing the origins of the thought and feelings enables a more informed decision about whether they are relevant to the situation at hand or being triggered by circumstances. Because human memories and emotions are so powerful, sometimes feelings and thoughts are more related to a similar past situation than the present. It can be difficult to discern the origins of pertinent thoughts and feelings, but it is very helpful to be able to.
Rating the intensity of discomfort from 1 to 10 with one being no discomfort and ten being nearly unbearable can help determine what to do with intrusive thoughts and feelings. If the discomfort is more than a 6 or 7 it might require action. If lower, perhaps it might be okay to sit with it. Life is rife with discomfort and being okay with discomfort is an essential skill to learn.
Relaxation skills assist with sitting with discomfort and with moving on. Relaxation skills may include mindfulness, abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, focusing on the 5 senses, listening to peaceful music, using imagery and taking a mindful walk. Its beneficial for an individual to develop a repertoire of relaxation skills that work for them in varied situations. Some people find it difficult to utilise relaxation skills and may benefit from having strategies specifically tailored to their lifestyle, personality, environment, circumstances and strengths.
If it is challenging to determine if thoughts and feelings belong in the present or are being triggered by past experiences, sitting with discomfort is too difficult, finding relaxation strategies that work seems impossible or you would like to learn about more ways to cope with thoughts and feelings, a sport psychologist might be of assistance. Moreover, if past events are being triggered by present circumstances events, it can be very helpful to understand and process these thoughts and feelings.
References:
Z. Vidic; N. P. Cherup. (2021) Take me into the ball game: an examination of a brief psychological skills training and mindfulness-based intervention with baseball players. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology Vol. 25.
Rogowska, A. M., & Tataruch, R. (2024). The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation. BMC Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation, 16, 1-13.
Book read mental skills are not enough…
Book read mental skills are often not enough…
Sport Psychologists regularly teach and support athletes with mental skills. Mental skills including attentional focus strategies, goal setting, arousal control, imagery and self-talk are essential for effective performance. They enhance enjoyment, goal attainment, balance and commitment.
Whilst, basic mental skills can be learned from reading a book or listening to a podcast, to be most effective, mental skills can be individually tailored to the sport, the individual, the specific need and the environment in which they are being used. Sport Psychologists are aware of the specific needs of athletes of all ages and stages. Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologists have studied the specific needs of athletes and performers and can assist with tailoring mental skills to an individual’s specific needs, personality, coping and environment.
Mental skills alone however, will not fully support an athlete. If an individual’s mental health or well-being is not optimal, the effectiveness of mental skills will be limited.
Sport and Exercise Psychologists are educated and aware of the specific mental health issues that impact the active population, such as performance pressure, perfectionism, identity, transition stages, body image and refocusing. They can help identify, assess and address underlying cognitive, emotional, personality, perpetuating and self-limiting factors that impact enjoyment, satisfaction, motivation, confidence and effective performance.
Research also indicates that
- early teaching of mental skills and strategies the promote positive mental health and well-being increases likelihood of reaching our later when needed.
- positive, open attitudes of support people to help seeking behaviors lead to more help seeking when needed.
Contact us to speak further.
Reifsteck, E. J., DeAnne, D. B., Seo, Y., Beisecker, L., Rao, N., & Chandran, A. (2023). Call it an “Evolution”: Promoting student-athlete well-being during the transition from collegiate sport. Journal of Athletic Training, 58(9), 697-703.
Pilkington, V., Rice, S., Olive, L., Walton, C., & Purcell, R. (2024). Athlete mental health and wellbeing during the transition into elite sport: Strategies to prepare the system. Sports Medicine – Open, 10(1), 24.
Help Seeking for all
Help Seeking Behaviour
Stigma appears to be decreasing but still exists. Given that the brain is the body’s control centre, good mental health has endless benefits. Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness, it is the ability to function well and cope with challenges in a meaningful way. It impacts physical psychological and cognitive functions and capabilities.
Help seeking is influenced by positive attitudes of support people, including family, friends and coaches. When significant others’ encourage help seeking and model help seeking behaviours, an individual is more likely to see it as part of having a healthy life. Encouraging early help seeking behaviours can also facilitate ongoing help seeking as needed during different life stages and challenges.
As well as stigma, other barriers to help seeking include: lack of accessibility and knowledge. Did you know that GP’s are able to make referrals to psychologists which enables patients to claim a portion of the fee via medicare? Also, many psychologist offer telehealth appointments making services more accessible to people living in rural areas.
Transition stages including: into elite sport, away from elite sport, changing clubs and competition levels are associated with exposure to mental health risk factors. If help seeking is an acceptable part of everyday life, then athletes are more likely to locate the support they need during these times.
Psychologists are not just for when people suffer significant mental health issues, or life challenges. Psychologists help people function to their potential in every day life. Everyone experiences challenges and obstacles and would benefit from reflecting on their coping strategies, resilience, emotional responses and connections.
Book an appointment to reflect on your coping strategies, resilience, emotions and connections.
Short on time?
Athletes, executives, coaches, students, employees and parents are all busy people.
Busy people often become very effective at managing their time. However, busy people can become so good at managing time, that they attempt to fit extra events or tasks into an already busy day.
Sometimes busy people become so focused on their to do list, that they feel like they should be able to get everything done.
What is important to you?
When asked this question, many people say relationships are a high priority. But when people are busily moving efficiently from one task to another, the tasks rather than the relationships can easily become the main focus.
It might be useful to take time today to ensure you are managing your time wisely, doing things that are high on your priority list and being present in important relationships.
If you are having difficulty with time management, please be in touch or make an appointment.
Getting Back into the Routine
Over the past 2 weeks, I have heard many people say that they are looking forward to getting back into a regular routine. They are talking about the regular routines of exercise, working, socialising, childcare and school. Many regular routines stop over the festive season and although many people enjoy a break from the usually, they seem to like it when their routines resume.
Routines are usually good for physical and mental health. Routines have many benefits including helping to reduce stress, enhance healthy behaviours, improve sleep, increase motivation, allow for regular social activity and assist with time management.
It can be useful to consider
Making regular routines for exercise, sleep, meals and socialising.
However, ensure routines are flexible and allow for changing circumstances, health and low energy levels.
Inflexible routines can increase stress.
If you are having trouble getting back into your routines, making routines or relying too much on routines to regular mood or stress, please be in touch.
Busy Times
December can be a busy time of year, with work deadlines, school activities, functions, shopping, checklists and more. Many people experience stress from the business of this time of year and consequently, relationships and interactions may also become more taxing.
“To do” lists can help us prioritise between urgent and important tasks and non- urgent and unimportant tasks. List can assist people to feel organised and manage their time well. They can increase the chances of completing vital jobs, help with motivation and lead to feelings of satisfaction. Lists are a good way to feel more organised and get tasks completed.
Close reliance on lists however, can lead to ignorance of a top priority for most people; that being relationships. When people are fixated on getting through their to do lists and making progress on tasks, interruption from other people or things can be unwelcome. Focusing purely on tasks and not responding to other people may result in regret, guilt or dissatisfaction.
A balance between being organised and flexible is often the key to feelings satisfied. If you have the tendency to become list focused when busy, and desire to be more people focused, add engaging daily with your loved ones to you urgent and important list until it becomes second nature. If you want further assistance becoming more involved and connected with people in your life, contact us.
Small Group Mental Skills Sessions
Small Group Mental Skills Sessions
Focus Performance Psychology is seeking expressions of interest for educational small group mental skills sessions about:
- Goal setting and motivation
- Concentration
- Managing nerves and anxiety, effective time management and utilising relaxation.
- Confidence and perfectionism.
Groups will be online and face to face.
Participants can form their own group, or can be placed in a small group with people similar interests.