OVERCOMING BLOCKS

Strategies to manage problems and perform optimally

BY Archana Law

During the Football World Cup in Qatar, soccer fans faced some tense moments before the penalty kick in many matches – including the final. After all, the tournament’s final is football’s biggest match with millions of eyes fixed on the green rectangle of a football pitch.

Goals galore and comeback chaos made it a tournament to remember! But the biggest lesson was that a World Cup final doesn’t require only technical and tactical ability – it demands the right mental approach too.

Even top professionals sometimes choke under the weight of that moment. Cognitive scientist and author of ‘Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To’ Sian Beilock says we tend to fall into a common trap.

She explains: “In these high stress situations, we worry about the situation, its consequences, what others will think of us… And one of the ways that we try to control this is by trying to control what we’re doing.”

Intense anxiety can negatively impact or block performance in all aspects of life – whether at school, work or in personal endeavours.

These blocks can manifest in various forms such as a lack of motivation, procrastination, self-doubt or fear of failure and can significantly hinder people’s ability to achieve their goals. However, there are several effective ways to overcome performance blocks and achieve success.

YOUR EMOTIONS The ability to apply your intelligence to process your emotions is fundamental to avoid being overwhelmed. This understanding can be used to manage your emotions effectively. It enables individuals to identify and regulate their emotions, which eventually leads to a more positive and productive mindset.

By tuning within, you can recognise your emotions, take a step back to usher in objectivity and better manage the thinking patterns that lead to the block. When any negative feelings such as anxiety, stress or self-doubt arise, being self-aware helps individuals take action, regulate their emotions and improve their moods.

Emotional intelligence can also help individuals maintain a positive and optimistic mindset even in the face of challenges or setbacks. By focussing on positive emotions such as motivation, hope and determination, people can overcome performance blocks and achieve their goals.

ROOT CAUSES One of the most effective ways to deal with performance blocks is to identify their root causes. It is essential to recognise the underlying reasons such as stress or a lack of skill to address the issue effectively. For example, if the block is due to a lack of skill, the individual can seek out additional training or education to improve his or her capabilities.

Another way to overcome performance blocks is to break down the task into smaller, more manageable parts. Often, the mere thought of the magnitude of a task can be overwhelming, leading to procrastination and avoidance. Breaking the task down into smaller achievable parts can help alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with it, and make it easier to approach and complete.

We generally have an ongoing silent conversation with ourselves. Of the 64,000 thoughts that race through our minds daily, most are the unpleasant, self-defeating and worrying kind. And these thoughts lead to a lack of confidence and motivation. By practising positive self-talk, individuals can shift their focus from their fears and doubts to their strengths and capabilities, and build up their self-confidence and motivation.

NLP TECHNIQUES Neurolinguistic programming comprises a set of techniques and strategies that can help people manage their emotions and behaviour to achieve their goals. These are some NLP exercises you can try.

Reframing is often used in psychology to describe the way that we can change our perspective on things within our environment, improve our feelings and avoid hasty or unwise decisions.

Meanwhile, visualisation is a powerful NLP technique that can help people overcome performance blocks. By visualising oneself succeeding and achieving one’s goals, an individual can build confidence and motivation, and thereby reduce the impact of performance blocks.

Anchoring is an NLP technique that links a particular emotion or state to a specific trigger, such as a gesture or word. Anchors can be used to help individuals overcome performance blocks by linking positive emotions like motivation or confidence to a specific trigger that will then help build a positive and productive mindset.

Above all, nurture yourself, practise self-compassion and focus on your strengths to develop self-confidence in managing performance blocks. When we have confidence in our abilities, we’re more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges, take risks and persist through difficult tasks.