Can reframing your thoughts improve performance
How we frame out thoughts affects the way we respond to them. In short it can make things feel better or worse than they actually are.
Our natural tendencies for self preservation will err on the side of worse. By using different framing techniques we can change that.
1. The “Less” Frame
Too much choice will make us value each option less.
McDonalds burger chain did studies that showed this problem. Their purchases went down when the menu got too complicated. They stripped the menu back to bare essentials (burger, fries, pie a drink). Their meteoric rise to dominance came off the back of this simplified menu, that didn’t make people have to think too hard.
Reduce the number of options to consider at any one time and you will start to feel the value in them more. It will also help you see them more clearly.
Curate/Prepare likely option choices before a race. Anything that reduces thinking effort is good.
2. The “Experience” Frame
We use past experience to compare things to.
We are more satisfied by past Experiences than actual physical things. Physical things loose their lustre quite quickly.
Framing things in relation to experiences such as past victories or defeats is a strong motivator.
3. The “Label” Frame
Naming things matters
The labels we give things will alter how we perceive them. Your race plan could be called
- Pain Mitigation strategy
OR - Podium finish plan
Using a positive label for choices, plans, strategies will fundamentally hack your brain into being more positive about them.
4. The “Blemished” Frame
Sometimes nothing but “Sunshine and Praise” is hard to believe
Realism comes from admitting that not everything is perfect. We are more likely to believe positive messages if there is a little negativity blended in.
It is like seeing 10 amazon reviews that rave about a product, and then one that does not. You will discount the negative as an outlier and believe the positive reviews more because it is there.
Think about the positives you want to reinforce first and then add a small negative as an afterthought, that you don’t pay too much attention to.
This is just enough to hack your brain into believing what you want it to.
5. The “Potential” Frame
Listing Potential is more powerful than achievement.
The potential to be good at something is valued higher than actually being good at it. It is more interesting and engaging and full of possibilities.
The uncertainty makes us think more deeply about the subject. It also adds a real world conditionality that absolute statements lack:
Consider these two phrases:
- I am going to win the race
- I am working hard to win this race
The first one is 100% positive and we will trust it less for that. The second one has doubt. It makes us think. It should hopefully lead us to a bank of experiences that have built up self trust and can be used to drive us onwards.
Which one of these could weather a little adversity without cracking.
Summary
Framing is one technique for changing the way we think about things. Mid race we can get in a pretty low mental state and Framing can be used to turn that around.
No matter which method you use, be sure to provide enough detail to guide you to success. Positive thoughts are great. A roadmap on how to implement them is even better 🙂
