The Key to Consistent Success
Winning a team championship is the crowning moment of achievement within any sport. It is often easier to reach the pinnacle than to stay there. When your team is at the top of the heap, opposing teams seek to dethrone the current “champs” and will take more risk in order to accomplish their goal. Opposing teams become highly motivated to beat defending champs because a win of that caliber becomes a statement to the league, as well as themselves.
The Miami Heat are defending NBA champions, winning back-to-back championships in 2011-12 and 2012-13. In 2010-11, the team formed the “Big 3” signing free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join forces with Dwyane Wade. From that moment, the expectation was to win multiple consecutive championships. Since the Heat’s first championship team, opposing teams have been devising plans, formulating strategies and building teams to take down the Heat.
In order to continuing winning championships, a team needs to do either more than the previous year or something different. Repeating the same efforts from the previous year can be equated to “resting on your laurels.”
Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat talked to his team about move on from last year and embrace the challenges of this season:
“What we talked about [at the start of camp] was starting the 28-day process of our burial of last year. The championship, as gratifying as it was, this [ring and banner ceremony during the home opener] will be the culmination of it, where we put the last shovel of dirt on it, where we have to move on. This new challenge, it will be different. Last year was totally different from the year before, and you have to be able to embrace that. The competition is better, it’s different. Our team is different. Guys, where they are at stages of their career, is different.”
Sploelstra understands that success requires a team attitude where the team rises above current challenges and focuses consistently on the present moment. Success is a process only accessible in the present moment.
Spoelstra also recognized the benefit of adversity and his team’s ability in the past to overcome obstacles, “Where it helps us is when it [adversity] hits and you start to struggle, we’ve been through it. We’ve been through it with all the noise and storylines and adversity. [It helps] that we’ve been able to persevere and focus on what matters. That [overcoming adversity] is sometimes tough if you haven’t experienced it as a group.”
Mental strategies for consistent success:
- Focus – You want to focus your efforts on what you are doing now (the present moment.)
- Effort – You want to think about doing something more, something better or something different in order to achieve consistent success.
- Attitude – You should view all opportunities as challenges to sharpen your game and reach for new heights.
- Consistency – You team should strive to prepare mentally and physically for consistent performance in games.
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Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How Consistent Preparation is Key to Performance
- Improve Intensity to Perform More Consistently
- Is Your Game Inconsistent From Day To Day?
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I agree with this post! This mental strategies are very important for consistent success. Not just in sport and workout but most importantly when dealing with our daily lives. We must focus on everything we do, put an effort to it, have that right attitude and be consistent with everything, mentally and physically. Thanks for sharing!