I just finished reading “It Takes What It Takes” by Trevor Mowad, and truth be told, I did not want to put it down. Mowad is known as the most trusted mental coach in the world of sports. He has a long list of clients, including Russell Wilson, who use his skills and strategies to ensure they have the right mindset to perform at the top of their games. He does this by focusing on neutral thinking.
Neutral thinking defined by Mowad is “a high-performance strategy that emphasizes judgement-free thinking, especially in crises and pressure situations.” He uses neutral thinking because it removes any illusions, self-delusion, or biases. It focuses on the truth of what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen.
What if you could remove the biases and apply neutral thinking? Think about what this could do for you not only personally but also for your organization? If the biases were gone, decisions were not made on the past, and the path forward was laid out with a neutral plan with checkpoints to ensure you are hitting your goals. Think about how this would change everyone’s engagement and commitment level.
Once a clear path is established, and everyone knows where they are going and what they need to do to succeed, it is a game-changer. There is clarity, focus, alignment, and commitment towards the goal. Now you can firmly answer the two questions that Michael Johnson asked himself before the 1996 Olympics where he won the 200 and 400-meter races to determine if you are going to succeed:
- Are you prepared?
- Can you execute your plan?
When we start putting together a strategy and plan based on neutral thinking, with a series of next steps based on facts and not the past or feelings, with an aligned team, the future becomes predictable. You are prepared and can execute because the steps are laid out, checkpoints are in place to measure progress, and everyone knows what they need to do to succeed, and the plan’s current status.
As we head into 2021, are you and your organization prepared, and do you have a plan that will work? I focus on helping people and organizations design and put plans to help them reach their goals. I have a goal to impact 100 individuals over the next three years through this work. Are you ready for me to help you?
