A look at training vs. coaching
There is a famous number in experience research, which focuses on the prerequisites under which people from very different spheres achieve top performances. 10,000 hours. There is another number or rule of thumb, 10 years.
It is apparent that people have acquired a certain expert status spent approximately 10,000 hours or 10 years educating themselves, practicing, and working extremely diligently (Hagemann, et al., 2007).
Whether they are chess grandmasters, top athletes, or professional musicians, anyone who wants to be good must put in the time.
Someone who wants to get really good has to invest lots of time in developing his abilities. Aside from a few exceptions, there is generally no shortcut to success.
But what if you already reached a certain level, and still have not achieved the desired success?
What if you technically could achieve certain things, but just can't get it done?
Let's assume that, based on his training results and performance diagnostics, a really good runner on a regular basis doesn't perform as well as he should at competitive races.
Would more or less intense physical training make sense here?
Or should the athlete try more frequent and intensive mental imaging of his movements and run?
More physical training would most likely not yield results and may even have the opposite effect, over-training or burnout.
And instead of training physical or mental abilities, it can of course also be advisable to resort to coaching for solutions to certain, often unconscious blocks, motivational lows, and so on.
Valuable positive changes can certainly happen here within a very short period of time as long as you can find the right parameters.
Sometimes these positive changes are downright dramatic, but they are very significant and powerful because they represent an initial spark followed by a considerable, long-term positive ripple effect.
And sometimes, all we need is a helpful suggestion to gain a new, different perspective on things.
How could you benefit from working with a coach?
[Thoughts from Mental Toughness for Runners by Michele Ufer]
#finishstrongermindsetcoaching