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Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
For readers of Atomic Habits and Grit, a top performance psychologist, who has coached elite athletes, surgeons, and business leaders, shares her proven plan to getting the best results when the pressure is on.
What do a major league baseball catcher struggling with pop ups, an operating room doctor tense before a surgery, and a slumping sixteen-year-old tennis prodigy all have in common? They’re elite performers who are not achieving excellence, and they’re not sure how to improve.
Enter Dr. Dana Sinclair. For more than twenty years, Dr. Dana has worked with the best of the best to improve results, from NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL teams to IndyCar drivers and Olympic athletes. She helps performers shift their focus and deliver optimal performance in high-pressure moments that define greatness. Her methods also work for students and teachers, business leaders and managers—anyone motivated to improve. Her approach is figure out what gets in your way, develop actions to address it in the moment, and then stick to the plan. It’s not about how you feel, it’s about what you do!
Now, for the first time, her method to improve performance is available to everyone. In Part One of Dialed In, Dr. Dana shares her key
-the true nature of confidence (it’s overrated)
-the difference between good routines and unhelpful superstitions
-good communicating vs. common bad advice
-why character is better than talent, and much more
In Part Two, she takes us through her three-step process for making your own performance plans, with five helpful examples to illustrate how it’s done. There are also leading questions and quick tips to help you better develop your personalized performance plan for whatever challenges you face.
Simple, smart, and effective, Dialed In is like having your own performance coach in your back pocket.
For readers of Atomic Habits and Grit, a top performance psychologist, who has coached elite athletes, surgeons, and business leaders, shares her proven plan to getting the best results when the pressure is on.
What do a major league baseball catcher struggling with pop ups, an operating room doctor tense before a surgery, and a slumping sixteen-year-old tennis prodigy all have in common? They’re elite performers who are not achieving excellence, and they’re not sure how to improve.
Enter Dr. Dana Sinclair. For more than twenty years, Dr. Dana has worked with the best of the best to improve results, from NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL teams to IndyCar drivers and Olympic athletes. She helps performers shift their focus and deliver optimal performance in high-pressure moments that define greatness. Her methods also work for students and teachers, business leaders and managers—anyone motivated to improve. Her approach is figure out what gets in your way, develop actions to address it in the moment, and then stick to the plan. It’s not about how you feel, it’s about what you do!
Now, for the first time, her method to improve performance is available to everyone. In Part One of Dialed In, Dr. Dana shares her key
-the true nature of confidence (it’s overrated)
-the difference between good routines and unhelpful superstitions
-good communicating vs. common bad advice
-why character is better than talent, and much more
In Part Two, she takes us through her three-step process for making your own performance plans, with five helpful examples to illustrate how it’s done. There are also leading questions and quick tips to help you better develop your personalized performance plan for whatever challenges you face.
Simple, smart, and effective, Dialed In is like having your own performance coach in your back pocket.
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Published January 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 8, 2024
I have to admit I don’t often read a lot of nonfiction, but when I saw this upcoming release by performance psychologist 𝐃𝐫. 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫, I knew as a woman, wife, and mother of collegiate athletes, I had to request it, and boy am I glad I did. Not only is it clear, precise, interesting, relevant, and informative, but also exceptionally useful.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Not only did it teach me some things about myself and techniques that will be helpful in my own life, but even more importantly, I think there are a lot of practical, valuable things in this book that will definitely benefit my kids.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Not only did it teach me some things about myself and techniques that will be helpful in my own life, but even more importantly, I think there are a lot of practical, valuable things in this book that will definitely benefit my kids.
January 10, 2024
As I continue to read and review self-help books in anticipation of my January radio segment for the CBC, next up is Dialed In, Do Your Best When it Matters Most by Dr. Dana Sinclair. This is a book that focuses on advice for those who want to perform better during high-pressure situations, and although I don’t read widely in this genre, I don’t remember coming across something similar to this in the past so it seems like its filling an important gap. I don’t often find myself in these kinds of situations but I do have to ‘perform’ when I’m doing my book segments for tv and radio, so I kept this situation in my mind as I read through her advice.
Book Summary
Sinclair is a performance psychologist, and flies all over the world to advise and help people perform their best. Her clients include opera singers, professional athletes, entire teams (she works with teams in the NHL, NBA, and MBL), business executives, ski and tennis stars, even school principles. She uses her clients stories (names changed, etc. to retain confidentiality) as examples of how a person can prepare for their own unique challenges when it comes to excelling at their job, whether it be hurtling down the side of a mountain or networking with an appropriate amount of people at a work event. The first part of the book are chapters dedicated to myth busting, including why having confidence isn’t the key to success, why superstitions are something you need to break free from, and how trying to motivate others is actually doing more harm than good in many situations. She includes a very in-depth section on the harms of parental overreach in sports, and the damage these well-intentioned actions and comments can be. The second part of the book is dedicated to creating a plan to enact before a performance, from breathing techniques to personal mantras and reminders, setting oneself up to consistently approach these situations which then makes one able to build upon and improve their performance in a concrete manner each time.
My Thoughts
This book is best suited for someone who performs physically, whether it be an athlete or actress, or whoever receives a spotlight shined on them regularly. That being said, it includes important information for everyone to keep in mind as we all face periods of pressure in our daily life, and we can apply these lessons to centering ourselves when we start to feel things go off the rails. I’ll not only keep her tips in mind when I’m about to go on the radio, but when I’m about to do a presentation at work, or have to give a short speech – these are all applicable situations to the advice she offers in this book.
Her focus on breath work is one of the most valuable chapters, as it solidifies the notion that connecting to one’s breath is really one of the most healthy things we can do as humans. If you’re anything like me, when I start to read about breathwork, I immediately change the way I’m breathing and try to slow down and deepen it, so I likely got in some great breathwork as even I read the chapter. I appreciated the fact that she offered various breathing techniques and timing so we could pick what suited us best, and she acknowledges that nervousness automatically makes breathing harder, so she starts with her best advice, and then offers little tips at the end to just keep in mind if we can’t go ‘all in’ to what she’s recommending at that very moment. Her suggestions are realistic and you’re able to customize them to the moment you are facing – a sign she is clearly used to working with lots of different personalities!
Another valuable, albeit niche chapter, is “When in Charge of Somebody, Watch It”, which offers advice to coaches and parents on what to do / not do when trying to motivate others. The best piece of advice in her entire book is found here, which spoiler alert, focuses on process, not results. This shift in focus is a common theme throughout, and as with all her advice, is easy-to-digest and remember long after you’ve put the book down.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD6E...
Book Summary
Sinclair is a performance psychologist, and flies all over the world to advise and help people perform their best. Her clients include opera singers, professional athletes, entire teams (she works with teams in the NHL, NBA, and MBL), business executives, ski and tennis stars, even school principles. She uses her clients stories (names changed, etc. to retain confidentiality) as examples of how a person can prepare for their own unique challenges when it comes to excelling at their job, whether it be hurtling down the side of a mountain or networking with an appropriate amount of people at a work event. The first part of the book are chapters dedicated to myth busting, including why having confidence isn’t the key to success, why superstitions are something you need to break free from, and how trying to motivate others is actually doing more harm than good in many situations. She includes a very in-depth section on the harms of parental overreach in sports, and the damage these well-intentioned actions and comments can be. The second part of the book is dedicated to creating a plan to enact before a performance, from breathing techniques to personal mantras and reminders, setting oneself up to consistently approach these situations which then makes one able to build upon and improve their performance in a concrete manner each time.
My Thoughts
This book is best suited for someone who performs physically, whether it be an athlete or actress, or whoever receives a spotlight shined on them regularly. That being said, it includes important information for everyone to keep in mind as we all face periods of pressure in our daily life, and we can apply these lessons to centering ourselves when we start to feel things go off the rails. I’ll not only keep her tips in mind when I’m about to go on the radio, but when I’m about to do a presentation at work, or have to give a short speech – these are all applicable situations to the advice she offers in this book.
Her focus on breath work is one of the most valuable chapters, as it solidifies the notion that connecting to one’s breath is really one of the most healthy things we can do as humans. If you’re anything like me, when I start to read about breathwork, I immediately change the way I’m breathing and try to slow down and deepen it, so I likely got in some great breathwork as even I read the chapter. I appreciated the fact that she offered various breathing techniques and timing so we could pick what suited us best, and she acknowledges that nervousness automatically makes breathing harder, so she starts with her best advice, and then offers little tips at the end to just keep in mind if we can’t go ‘all in’ to what she’s recommending at that very moment. Her suggestions are realistic and you’re able to customize them to the moment you are facing – a sign she is clearly used to working with lots of different personalities!
Another valuable, albeit niche chapter, is “When in Charge of Somebody, Watch It”, which offers advice to coaches and parents on what to do / not do when trying to motivate others. The best piece of advice in her entire book is found here, which spoiler alert, focuses on process, not results. This shift in focus is a common theme throughout, and as with all her advice, is easy-to-digest and remember long after you’ve put the book down.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD6E...
Read
November 10, 2024The next time you see one of your favorite athletes excelling their profession like never before, or actors really hitting it out of the ballpark in a tense and emotional scene, there is the possibility that Dana Sinclair had a hand in that performance. She is noted as being a performance psychologist, who has traveled far and wide to get the best out of them in whatever line of work they may be in.
It goes without saying, that while some people may have natural talents and skills, one also needs guidance along the way to enhance what they have. Dana Sinclair has made it her lifelong profession to bring out not only the best in individuals, but also creating a more positive and confident atmosphere to their lives.
Within the pages of DIALED IN DO YOUR BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST, she talks of several aspects to succeeding. She often looks at what is hindering one’s achieving success. There are often self-defeating thoughts, along with the notion of mind over matter. She talks early in the book about confronting one’s fear. If one faces them head-on rather than resisting or avoiding them, it will lessen their hold on you, allowing you to move forward. The fear of failure is a popular part of one’s life, where if we think we will not succeed, we won’t, the self-fulfilling prophecy where if you think negative thoughts, negative thoughts may follow you around.
In each chapter, the author offers sound advice from a variety of perspectives, using interactions with some of her clients as a basis of proving her points. She had been in this business for more than two decades, giving her a leg-up in recognizing and offering advice that works.
In another chapter where she discusses tension, she says it can cause chaos and drama, and will crush you if you let it. Knowing your tension threshold will keep you in your comfort zone. She talks about something so basic as breathing helping you cope with your tension. She says the most efficient way to keep calm is to pay attention to your breathing.
There are so many other areas that she explores, which gives you an overview of ways to do your best no matter what line of work you are in. There is also a fascinating chapter on superstitions that she calls not so super if they hold you back from success. Athletes and actors do sometimes have rituals before performances. Wear a lucky hat, wear the same socks, or eating the same foods is their pathway to great performances, but they may be more detrimental in the long room.
The advice in the book is basic and helpful no matter what line of work or profession you are in. Dial this book up as one you need to read.
It goes without saying, that while some people may have natural talents and skills, one also needs guidance along the way to enhance what they have. Dana Sinclair has made it her lifelong profession to bring out not only the best in individuals, but also creating a more positive and confident atmosphere to their lives.
Within the pages of DIALED IN DO YOUR BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST, she talks of several aspects to succeeding. She often looks at what is hindering one’s achieving success. There are often self-defeating thoughts, along with the notion of mind over matter. She talks early in the book about confronting one’s fear. If one faces them head-on rather than resisting or avoiding them, it will lessen their hold on you, allowing you to move forward. The fear of failure is a popular part of one’s life, where if we think we will not succeed, we won’t, the self-fulfilling prophecy where if you think negative thoughts, negative thoughts may follow you around.
In each chapter, the author offers sound advice from a variety of perspectives, using interactions with some of her clients as a basis of proving her points. She had been in this business for more than two decades, giving her a leg-up in recognizing and offering advice that works.
In another chapter where she discusses tension, she says it can cause chaos and drama, and will crush you if you let it. Knowing your tension threshold will keep you in your comfort zone. She talks about something so basic as breathing helping you cope with your tension. She says the most efficient way to keep calm is to pay attention to your breathing.
There are so many other areas that she explores, which gives you an overview of ways to do your best no matter what line of work you are in. There is also a fascinating chapter on superstitions that she calls not so super if they hold you back from success. Athletes and actors do sometimes have rituals before performances. Wear a lucky hat, wear the same socks, or eating the same foods is their pathway to great performances, but they may be more detrimental in the long room.
The advice in the book is basic and helpful no matter what line of work or profession you are in. Dial this book up as one you need to read.
October 9, 2024
I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars if I could. I learned a lot, such as how breathing it out and breathing well can enhance performance, common derailers of performance, the difference between good routines and unhelpful superstitions, that confidence is overrated (it’s what you do, not what you feel that matters in performance), the power of good (not necessarily positive) self-talk, how character counts more than talent, using mental practice (aka daydreaming) to enhance performance, tips for sticking to the plan, and so much more!
I didn’t give this book a 5/5, because it started out kind of slow and a bit erratic in its narrative, like at one point asking the reader what kind of person described that you resonate with most without really providing helpful suggestions to people who resonate with a certain description. I actually evaluated whether continuing to read this book was worthwhile in the beginning, but I’m very glad I stuck with it!
I thought this was a very worthwhile read! Thank you Dr Sinclair for your valuable insights!! Looking forward to using these tools and strategies in my next performance.
I didn’t give this book a 5/5, because it started out kind of slow and a bit erratic in its narrative, like at one point asking the reader what kind of person described that you resonate with most without really providing helpful suggestions to people who resonate with a certain description. I actually evaluated whether continuing to read this book was worthwhile in the beginning, but I’m very glad I stuck with it!
I thought this was a very worthwhile read! Thank you Dr Sinclair for your valuable insights!! Looking forward to using these tools and strategies in my next performance.
May 7, 2024
This was another great book to start the year. Sinclair is a performance psychologist who has worked with professional athletes, coaches, surgeons, and performers to help them get through performance-related anxiety or other issues.
.
I personally read this book in the hopes of trying to find some coping mechanisms for my negative self-talk at the gym- small potatoes for her I’m sure, but I found some great strategies!
.
If you are afraid of public speaking, have a stressful job, or are a parent of a little performer, this book will help. For the first half the book she explains her views, including some myth busting: telling someone to “believe in yourself” is actually wildly unhelpful.
The second half is about how to build your plan- which usually consists of five bullet points or less.
.
Practical, accessible and helpful. Really glad I have this book to keep referring to!
.
★ ★ ★ ★
.
I personally read this book in the hopes of trying to find some coping mechanisms for my negative self-talk at the gym- small potatoes for her I’m sure, but I found some great strategies!
.
If you are afraid of public speaking, have a stressful job, or are a parent of a little performer, this book will help. For the first half the book she explains her views, including some myth busting: telling someone to “believe in yourself” is actually wildly unhelpful.
The second half is about how to build your plan- which usually consists of five bullet points or less.
.
Practical, accessible and helpful. Really glad I have this book to keep referring to!
.
★ ★ ★ ★
February 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and learned some interesting techniques. I am just a retired guy who has taken up piano and loves it. The problem I have, besides having little talent, is that when I play in front of people - I freeze. I lose my place and can't find it etc etc. This book gave me invaluable methods to eliminate this problem. The book was very well written and worth the time either if you are a hobbyist or all the way to wherever you preside.
April 18, 2024
This was a good book, just different than I was expecting. The author is a performance psychologist and works with a lot of professional athletes, so many of the examples in the book consisted of that, which didn't hold my interest as much as I had hoped. The basic principles of the book can be transferred to other situations and performances, however. I did enjoy the information I read, I would have just preferred it in a shorter article or something not so time consuming to read.
January 17, 2024
Dr. Sinclair explains how to manage stress and anxiety to really perform at your best. Most of the examples apply specifically to sports but some have potential applications in other areas as well.
November 21, 2024
G Code Unanimous live and direct... About 3.5 stars...Really think for this most part would have enjoyed a little better just seem like it was messing something like clinical data research threw her own medical practices for me to get more clarification on the skim the delivery prospective it reflects performance psychologist . As sometimes its great for sports there whole life to transition without sports then to later look at life different althicical thearpy is more with counsol session shout out to Dr. Dana Sinclair on this continues studies University Of Cambridge, University Of British Columbia… G Code Unanimous live and direct...
#MeTooMovement.
#MeTooMovement.
March 17, 2024
A little more "narrative focused" and anecdotal than I would have liked, but her connections with her clients and their stories certainly make the material easy to fly through and ground the process she explains in something real. Overall, I think she does provide some really great advice for people, because her steps are all actionable and accessible to anyone who would like to do better -- for themselves! Another great thing about her message.... it's not about being better than anyone else or being a champion, it's about making yourself the best you possible.
December 27, 2024
Not a bad self-help book, a lot of the advice actually sort of makes sense - however, it all essentially boils down to: "tell yourself you have the ability to do it and just do it"... you can just buy Nike to tell you this. But the book itself is truly not on the bad spectrum of self-help books and I do believe that this mindset author puts out can help you in a lot of cases.
April 21, 2025
This book says nothing in so many words. Every idea is presented with a single example (vs any generalisable studies), later followed by a counter example, with the only way to differentiate the two situations is to be the author.
This is less self-help, more "help yourself by hiring me, I do corporate events by the way"
This is less self-help, more "help yourself by hiring me, I do corporate events by the way"
January 3, 2024
My mum wrote a book! I'm a little biased, but it's pretty darn great!
July 25, 2024
The book has good ideas and rules to follow but idk I just feel like it is bogged down with ideas and there are countless other books I can recommend which does every aspect of this book better
July 17, 2024
My husband and I read this one together. He has always been interested in sports psychology, but the material is helpful and interesting even outside those participating in competitive sports. We both thoroughly enjoyed the read and liked the author's writing style, Dana Sinclair.
Sinclair's book is a refreshing take on sports psychology, focusing not on competition but on personal development. She challenges commonly held beliefs, such as the idea that confidence is the key to success. Her book is not about outperforming others or winning championships, but about becoming the best version of yourself.
We enjoyed reading perspectives from professional players, although the names were changed, it was interesting to read about the struggles these professional athletes deal with. We often treat these pros as larger than life figures, which is an excellent reminder that they struggle with the same things we do.
Sinclair's book is a refreshing take on sports psychology, focusing not on competition but on personal development. She challenges commonly held beliefs, such as the idea that confidence is the key to success. Her book is not about outperforming others or winning championships, but about becoming the best version of yourself.
We enjoyed reading perspectives from professional players, although the names were changed, it was interesting to read about the struggles these professional athletes deal with. We often treat these pros as larger than life figures, which is an excellent reminder that they struggle with the same things we do.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews