The Key Ingredient Athletes Need to Enjoy the Process
It’s no secret that athletes who enjoy the process get better faster than those who don’t. However, the problem is most parents and coaches don’t know what to do when an athlete is not enjoying the process.
Well, obviously, like most things there is no one size fits all solution to this problem. When an athlete is not enjoying the process it’s often because of many things, not just one. Therefore, there is no simple prescription I can write to change any given athlete’s mindset to make them enjoy the process. That’s the bad news. But there is good news.
The good news is that while there is no one size fits all solution, there is a one size fit’s all process. Yes, that’s right. There is a process for enjoying the process, and that process is the use of a goal progression.
A Goal Progression to Enjoy the Process
A goal progression is the process of moving gradually towards a more advanced state. Defining a goal progression is no different than defining a progression for a physical activity. When you define the progression for a physical activity, you must first break down the athletic skills and muscle groups that need development. Once you identify that, you then develop a daily routine around developing those skills and / or muscle groups. This routine must include tracking the consistency streaks, measuring progress, and making adjustments.
Then, every time you graduate to the next step in the progression, it serves as the compass for verifying you’re moving in the direction of progress. Moreover, these progression steps become the roses you can see, as well as take time to stop and smell by celebrating on the way to your destination. This is ultimately what leads to the mindset you need to enjoy the process.
So, when an athlete is not enjoying the process, the first step is to create a progression to get them to enjoy the process. By definition, this means they won’t learn to enjoy the process overnight. It could even take them an entire season and off-season. But that is how progressions work.
Day by day set new goals, make progress, celebrate progress, and continually evaluate what’s working and what’s not. By sticking with these steps over time enjoyment of the process will come naturally.