By David Gardy Ermann // The default assumption in professional football is that the starting quarterback is more than just the best passer on the field; he is expected to be the team leader. I previously wrote an article (available here) on three psychological principles that underlie the success of NFL starting quarterbacks: self-efficacy, preparation, and patience. Starting quarterbacks serve a role on their teams much the same as business leaders do their companies. To that end, business leaders would significantly benefit by incorporating the practices that are founded upon these three psychological principles.
Gaining ‘Traction’ on Self-Talk
Imagine going into a meeting expecting the worst. What sort of vibe will you present? How will that influence the response of the other participants? Control your self-talk with the WBL approach.
Understanding Stress
By Jim Davis, Ed.M, MA “I’m overloaded”; “I’m underwater”; “I’m struggling here man” – those are three direct quotes from three different people currently sitting in my email inbox. Real, high-quality leaders, feeling overwhelmed. Leaders are looking for “less stress” in their lives. Makes sense. Stress can be painful, frustrating, and make even small tasks … Continue reading Understanding Stress
The Gambler’s Fallacy (Clustering Illusion)
The clustering illusion, sometimes referred to as the gambler’s fallacy, occurs when a cluster of random results is falsely imbued with meaning. It’s a common mistake. Though it is understandable, it can have dire consequences.
Learned Optimism
Imagine the difference between spending time stressing about whether or not a teammate will meet the deadline, versus sending them a note to that says 'you got this, looking forward to seeing the final product!' From a core of #optimism, behaviors and interactions shape themselves
How Good is a Sleepy Leader?
Is it possible that we overlook the role of the body in our professional lives? Habits of health and wellness play a larger role in workplace culture than one might initially think.
5 Keys to a Successful Gratitude Practice
The busy college professor, high-powered CEO, and parent of four can all find a few minutes to practice gratitude. It’s true. And if you don’t feel like you have five minutes to spare, then you are EXACTLY the right person for this article. Your mental wellness is at stake.
A New Take on Work-Related Anxiety
By Jim Davis An email that should take 10 minutes takes half a day when the writer spends too much time concerned about how it might be perceived. The creator of a slide deck spends 45 minutes tinkering with fonts instead of inserting the months’ KPI results and sending it along. Work-related anxiety can extend … Continue reading A New Take on Work-Related Anxiety
Should We Be Coaching for Grit?
Angela Duckworth is a professor at University of Pennsylvania, the Director of the Character Lab, and the reason “grit” has become an essential component of the coaching vocabulary. Grit is a prized capacity in athletes, and Duckworth literally wrote the book on it. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance has become an international bestseller … Continue reading Should We Be Coaching for Grit?
MINDFUL MOVEMENT: A scaffold for student mindfulness training
Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*D Attention is a skill. As technology improves and phones tug at the nervous systems of our students, it is a skill we should deliberately cultivate. Research has shown that “off-task” use of technology has become normalized in the classroom. Students are distracted more than ever before. Teaching the skill of … Continue reading MINDFUL MOVEMENT: A scaffold for student mindfulness training