Successful hockey players have set goals which have driven and directed their efforts in their quest to be the best they can be. Goal setting is an extremely powerful technique for enhancing performance so it is one of the most important strategies you can implement for success in any environment. Goal setting helps to focus attention and it is critical to maintain and enhance motivation. Goal setting gives direction both in the short term and the long term and you can see success as you achieve your short term goals. This increases your confidence as you are being success and achieving. So if you don’t set goals you must start today. However goal setting is a process that must be implemented correctly.
How does Goal Setting Work?
- Goals direct attention to tasks at hand and highlights what needs to be completed. It allows you to implement strategies to develop specific elements of the business that need to be utilise to complete the goal.
- Goals mobilise your efforts. You will put your efforts into moving towards the goal as you are provided with the incentive of completing the goal.
- Goals prolong your persistence because you are rewarded with incentives as you achieve your goals. People who set goals stick at tasks for longer as they are achieving smaller goals that combined form larger goals.
- Goals foster the development of new learning strategies. In order achieve the goals you may need to develop new strategies to complete the task at hand.
Brent Livermore, High Performance coach
Brent Livermore OAM , is the former Australian Hockey captain and Olympic gold medallist. He uses goal setting constantly. He believes as a hockey player who is serious about his sport it is clearly not so easy to just be successful by thinking that all we have to do is wake up, do what the game day brings and think that’s going to lead us to success, in any area. This is the approach that Brent recommends for players in goal setting for a new hockey season.
- It is a time to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself and ask others- How did I perform last year? Was it as effective as I planned or would have liked?
- build a foundation of goals for the new season-
- Take the time to design and plan your detailed Program that will build upon your goals.
Write down your strengths and weaknesses
Write a List of 5 good things that resulted from your planning and implementation
Write a list of 5 things you believe is important to keep improving your performance
What are your Goals (success) you would like to achieve this up and coming year?
What and who do I need to engage to gain support for these?
Improving Individual Skill Development – List 5 goals to start with
Physical Improvement – Fitness, Speed, Strength, Recovery, Injury Prevention –
Team Skills that you can add –
Mental Toughness and Obstacles you can add –
Nutritional requirements –
Life Balance – Other things that are important
NB: it is important to write your goals in terms that are specific (S), Measurable (M), Attainable (A), Realistic ( R) and are time bound (T)
‘Ink it, don’t think it’ – Make sure you write your goals down. This cannot be underestimated. The action of doing this reinforces your intent to complete the goal. It becomes a sort of contract that you feel obliged and committed to complete it. Write them do and put the goals on the wall. Again every time you see them you further reinforce your commitment to the goal. Also by writing them down you will not forget any goal and you get the satisfaction of ticking or crossing them off you have achieved them. Recording them also allows you to chart your progress towards your long term goals and evaluate them. Writing your goals down also allows you to constantly re-evaluate your goals. Do you need to re-assess and modify your goals?
We thank Brent for his personal input into this edition of Player Tips.
Executive and Investor Consultant
High Performance Coaching/Speaking & Appearances/ Elite Performance Teams
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Mob: 0413 083 447
Email: brent@brentlivermore.com
Web: www.brentlivermore.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/pub/brent-livermore-oam
Facebook: brent.livermore.5@facebook.com
Skype: Liverchief25
