How well do you listen? Are you an athlete that tunes out
those around you when you practice, including your coach? Or are you the type
of athlete that listens with eyes, ears, and heart wide open?
Listening skills as an athlete is a skill that must be
practiced and perfected. Unable to decode your coach's directives under
pressure can have devastating effects mid athletic performance. As athletes,
there is a natural ability to compete, an excellent quality to have on the
court, not a great quality of court.
Weak listeners tend to be more self-evolved, silent, process what they are going to say next, but they don't engage in conversation. Keen listeners are engaged, process what they are going to say next AND ask quality questions that evoke a healthy conversation; they produce an engaging tennis match with their words.
Athlete's Listening Skills 101
1. Listen to your coach – Repeat what they are saying.
Write down their message in your own words.
2. Listen with your Heart – Empathy goes a long way.
Listen to your injured teammate by asking them how they are doing, inquire
about their injury, and their recovery journey.
3. Listen and Implement – Listen by doing. Take one drill
at a time and apply it. Repeat.
Listening requires to be fully present; simple, yet so
challenging to achieve when your mind is spinning, planning, organizing your
to-do list or daydreaming about your sexy love life – a.k.a, your new triathlon
bike. It's distracting. At times it's a great distraction, a welcomed one;
nonetheless, a distraction.
You can polish your listening skills with a simple and
effective mantra; I've customized the Athlete's Listening Mantra for athletes
and their loved ones. Anyone who wants to enhance their listening skills will
benefit from this mantra. Use the Athlete's Listening Mantra as a remote
control for your thoughts.
Pause your thoughts by repeating the Athlete's Listening
Mantra. It's a potent mantra, apply it, and share it.
When your coach is yelling drills at you, and you can't
seem to catch them in sequential order, take a deep breath, and silently repeat
the Listening Mantra. You'll instantly reset, focus, and be in the moment.
Green Little Notebook by the pool
My listening skills were not as polished during pool
practice. I've mastered listening skills in the comfort zone of my office, but
not at 5 a.m. in the pool. I soon realized mantras shmantras – I needed more
help, so I grabbed my little green notebook and placed it by the pool. I wrote
down my mantra, repeated the mantra between drill sets, and began writing
drills in my language. My coach can't read my scribbles, only I can. The little
green notebook is pretty beat up and misshapen, but I keep it as a reminder to
slow down, be in the moment and listen with your eyes, ears, and heart.
The Athlete's Listening Mantra is your reminder to zip it.
Be in the moment.
Listen and Learn.
Athlete's Listening Mantra
My heart is open.
I Am listening.
I Am focused.
Love,
Lupe.
Join me next week for
your Athlete's Monday Mantra. Sing up to receive your
Athlete's Inspiration straight to your inbox at malifecoach.com.
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