Team building and mental skills training workshops
You coach a great group of athletes. They show a lot of promise but there are areas where they still need extra help with their development. At times, they have trouble taking constructive criticism. They tend to hear feedback as bashing or roasting them. Instead of reflecting on feedback they can often get defensive. You often hear them say, “okay, but..” after you try to coach them up. They even communicate with each other in a way that can pull them apart instead of bring them together as a team. You’ve been waiting for one of the athletes to step up as a leader, but it doesn’t seem to happen. There are a couple players that have bad attitudes. If they’re having a bad day, then everyone ends up having a bad day. Instead of working as a team and making that extra pass, they focus on their own individual glory.
Teamwork and communication aren’t the only issue. Some of the athletes are rockstars that could run through a brick wall if asked, whereas others struggle to bounce back from a setback. The pressure can get to them and a bad play can get in their heads and quickly turn into a slump. You’ve pulled your players to the side and tried to help them on an individual basis. You’ve also tried addressing these with them together as a team. Now, it’s time to bring in outside help.
How can teams perform better?
I am Dr. Jason von Stietz, a psychologist licensed in California, and I help teams to perform better. Instead of lecturing athletes, I facilitate fun and engaging team building activities that allow athletes to practice teamwork and communication. I incorporate mental skills training into the activities to help athletes have the tools they need to focus under pressure.
How do improv comedy exercises help teams perform better?
Improv comedy requires that participants focus on the present moment and collaborate with others in spite of any discomfort and distractions. During improv, individuals must let go of their individual agenda and embrace the emerging team vision. This helps teams to perform better in practice, which in turn helps them to perform better during competition.
Wondering about the next step? Contact me today to set up a free phone consultation. We’ll discuss your team’s individual needs and how I can help.