Visualisation techniques have been scientifically proven to improve performances. One reason is that your body cannot tell the difference between a real experience and a vividly imagined one. However, there are some specific points to note, to ensure you are doing it correctly. Athletes use these extra ingredients and tend to call it mental rehearsal because it’s specific, deliberate and done carefully and consistently. Furthermore, unless you get these specifics right, your time spent practicing seeing what you want may be in vain. Moreover, you may not be able to create what you want as quoted by Einstein:
“What you can imagine you can create”
If you cannot make a clear picture first, it may not be possible to create what you want. And some people do find it difficult to make pictures in their mind, as I experienced recently while coaching a client. Firstly, he couldn’t make a clear picture of what he wanted. Secondly, he couldn’t connect with a positive feeling to make the goal more inspirational. Lastly, he was frustrated as he felt that there must be something wrong with him because of this.
The goal wasn’t really that important
While coaching my client, we discovered the goal he was focusing on wasn’t really the critical goal for him. One of his goals was to work with his ideal client, so I suggested he imagine himself at the completion of a job. He tried to picture himself shaking hands with his smiling client. To him, this equalled a happy client and in return, being paid handsomely. However, he was struggling to make this picture clear and connect with a positive feeling.
Upon drilling down, he said that he always shakes his client’s hands at the end of every job. With some unpacking, we drilled down to a more compelling and driving goal which involved his family and his relationship with them. As his family is his most important value, even though he loved his work, it was really a stepping stone for something more important. The quality time he could spend with his family and the potential holidays. This was a key reason visualisation wasn’t working for him.
From here, visualisation became easier. Furthermore, he could stand in the moment he knew he had achieved his goal and connect with the driving feeling. So, even though visualisation and mental rehearsal can boost your results, you do need to have a clear purpose and drive for achieving what it is you say you want. For many athletes, the time spent in mental training becomes a keystone habit and driver for their success.
You can use visualisation for sporting and business success
Research has proven that imagery activates neural and behavioural responses similar to the genuine experience. Imagined activity activates the very same neural pathways that real activity does. The circuitry is primed and this causes small, subliminal motor movements in the specific muscles used in that activity. Moreover, biofeedback technology has shown that visualisation can alter blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and a range of other body functions. Furthermore, many experiments have shown excellent results with the use of structured mental rehearsal.
This means that as well as for improving sporting performances you can use visualisation or mental rehearsal for your business success. Specifically for rehearsing and training your thoughts. As your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviours, when you imagine yourself being successful you are standing in the moment of achievement. Furthermore, when you ensure your thoughts are positive and towards what you want, you increase your chances of success. Both of these are key ingredients for creating a mindset for success.
Next, you can rehearse exactly how you will show up and perform. Furthermore, what you will be seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling and doing. You can literally sculpt your future. Coupled with this is a fundamental truth from neuroscience. You are what you give your attention to. If you are mindful about what and how you focus, results improve.
However, just like anything, visualisation and mental rehearsal is a skill that needs to be practised regularly for optimal results.
Here are a few tips to help you master the skill of visualisation
- First, decide exactly what you want and why. Please make sure it excites you or at the very least causes you to feel expansive about the outcome.
- Pay attention to the details in the image you create. Visualisation is a skill that needs practice and care in reviewing its effectiveness. The precise details need to be correct. If you want a meeting to go well for both parties make sure you are smiling and your body language matches a positive demeanour. Likewise for the other people. See them with smiling faces and with a relaxed positive outlook.
- It is essential to ensure your language is positive. Your brain doesn’t process negative language without introducing the very thing you do not want to see or do. ‘Don’t make a mistake.’ Or ‘Don’t say the wrong thing’ are introducing precisely what you don’t want. Focus on words that are towards the outcome or goal that you desire.
Connecting with positive feelings is a critical step
- While visualising is important, kinaesthetic imagery is vital. This is the difference between just visualising and embracing mental full mental rehearsal. Connecting with positive feelings, such as joy, happiness, or pride will help improve this technique. If you are visualising a performance, whether on the field or in the boardroom, you may like to consider calling to mind the physical sensations. These include muscle tension or rapid heart rate if you are excited or nervous. It might also include an awareness of where you are standing or sitting. How you are moving or holding your body. The more senses you include, the greater the activation of motor-processing brain structures than just visualising alone. It helps lock in the feeling into your body, taking it beyond just an image in your mind.
- Motivation to practice is a key part of successful imagery practice. Just as my client presumed he was no good at visualisation and was getting frustrated, he was not motivated to keep trying. Make sure you have a compelling reason to practice.
- Consistency is critical. All change requires consistent practice and commitment to the path. Without this, you will not create the results you wish to experience.
Physical practice combined with visualisation will boost your results
- Remember, the brain changes that occur when you learn a new skill are also happening when you imagine them, resulting in real physical learning and development of that imagined skill. If you want to improve your public speaking or presentations, then physically practising them as well as visualising them will skyrocket your potential successes.
- While research has shown that visualising alone can improve performance, it doesn’t mean you can sit on the couch every night and imagine yourself working out at the gym, and in a short time, you will be fit, healthy and slender. Physical movement and action is always a key ingredient at any level of success. Finally, put the two together and you have a recipe for superior success. And fo course, make sure you practice and create good habits to help you achieve your goals.
Now the only question left, is what areas of your business could you embrace some mental rehearsal for your goals and performances at work?
About the author
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