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The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life
In the classic joke, a New York tourist asks, “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” The old answer: “Practice. Practice. Practice.”
Today, the relatively new science of performance psychology tells us that the old answer is incomplete at best. In The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life, clinical sport psychologist Eddie O’Connor, Ph.D., shares the best ways for you to reach your personal Carnegie Hall based on the latest scientific research—whether your performance environment is music, dance, business, or sport. These often surprising research results will make you rethink your own performance strategies, offering approaches you might never have considered and busting myths you might have taken as truth.
In The Psychology of Performance, you will learn how to tackle some of the greatest challenges that arise as you work towards your goals. The very first step is to clearly define those goals and your values, discovering how to shape your practice and performance as you go. Even with your path clearly defined, however, there are difficulties you will need to tackle along the way.
One of the most common roadblocks to success is performance anxiety, which you can learn to overcome through imagery techniques and other tools. A crucial thing to remember as you “get in the zone”—that psychological place where everything comes together and feels easy—is to remember to be compassionate to yourself when you don’t succeed right away. Pushing ahead and struggling will always be a part of accomplishing your goals; Dr. O’Connor teaches not only how to succeed, but how to deal with the negative parts of your journey as well, including how to identify and prevent burnout.
The relatively new field of performance psychology is helping performers around the world up their mental, emotional, and physical games in sport, dance, art, and business. With The Psychology of Performance, you, too, can aim for the top with scientifically proven theories and skills.
Today, the relatively new science of performance psychology tells us that the old answer is incomplete at best. In The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life, clinical sport psychologist Eddie O’Connor, Ph.D., shares the best ways for you to reach your personal Carnegie Hall based on the latest scientific research—whether your performance environment is music, dance, business, or sport. These often surprising research results will make you rethink your own performance strategies, offering approaches you might never have considered and busting myths you might have taken as truth.
In The Psychology of Performance, you will learn how to tackle some of the greatest challenges that arise as you work towards your goals. The very first step is to clearly define those goals and your values, discovering how to shape your practice and performance as you go. Even with your path clearly defined, however, there are difficulties you will need to tackle along the way.
One of the most common roadblocks to success is performance anxiety, which you can learn to overcome through imagery techniques and other tools. A crucial thing to remember as you “get in the zone”—that psychological place where everything comes together and feels easy—is to remember to be compassionate to yourself when you don’t succeed right away. Pushing ahead and struggling will always be a part of accomplishing your goals; Dr. O’Connor teaches not only how to succeed, but how to deal with the negative parts of your journey as well, including how to identify and prevent burnout.
The relatively new field of performance psychology is helping performers around the world up their mental, emotional, and physical games in sport, dance, art, and business. With The Psychology of Performance, you, too, can aim for the top with scientifically proven theories and skills.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2017
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237 people want to read
About the author
Eddie O'Connor
2 books1 followerDr. Eddie O’Connor is a professional speaker and both clinical and sport psychologist, specializing in removing barriers to peak performance. He is a Fellow and Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. Dr. Eddie has worked with youth, high school, collegiate, national and international, Junior Olympic and professional athletes and coaches, as well as performing artists and musicians.
Dr. Eddie is frequently sought after by media, appearing regularly on FOX News in Grand Rapids, a featured guest on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio, and quoted in ESPN.com, NBA.com, Los Angeles Times, Runner’s World, NYMag.com, and CNN.com.
He is author and host of The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life by The Great Courses, quoted in the New York Times as being the “Netflix of learning” who recruit “the world’s greatest professors” that “are truly special.”
An international presenter with over 350 speaking engagements and media appearances, Dr. Eddie delivers a powerful and entertaining message to his audience.
Dr. Eddie is frequently sought after by media, appearing regularly on FOX News in Grand Rapids, a featured guest on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio, and quoted in ESPN.com, NBA.com, Los Angeles Times, Runner’s World, NYMag.com, and CNN.com.
He is author and host of The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life by The Great Courses, quoted in the New York Times as being the “Netflix of learning” who recruit “the world’s greatest professors” that “are truly special.”
An international presenter with over 350 speaking engagements and media appearances, Dr. Eddie delivers a powerful and entertaining message to his audience.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 2, 2019
This would be more accurately titled "The Psychology of Sports Performance as that was almost exclusively its focus with few forays into how the psychology he discusses applies to any other aspect of life. As nice as it is to know how to maintain elite athletic performance through midlife if one were an elite athlete as a youth, that's not all that relevant to my life and probably not to most other listeners' either.
April 4, 2018
Klinik spor psikoloğu Eddie O'Connor'un bu sesli kitabın ortalarındayım şu sıralar. Çok çok beğendim. Spor ve performans psikolojisiyle ilgili gözükse de hayatın her alanında kullanılabilecek faydalı bilgilerle dolu. Spor/performans psikologluğu koçluktan farklı bir alanmış, sporcular, takımlar hatta şirketlere destek veriyormuş.
Kitap yarım saatlik 24 dersten oluşuyor: Spor ve performans psikolojisinin tanımı ve tarihçesi, düzenli pratik, performans için gerekli değerler ve hedefler, farkındaklık (budist meditasyon tekniklerine dersler boyunca oldukça ağırlık verilmiş, ve detayla teknikler anlatılıyor ve uygulama yapılıyor), pozitif düşünce her zaman işe yaramaz, kabullenmek ve irade göstermek, söz vermek, iç motivasyonu bulmak, eyleme geçmeden önce kafada canlandırma teknikleri, güven ve kendi kendine konuşma, odaklanmış dikkati geliştirmek, batıl inançlar-ritüeller ve rutinler, performans kaygısı, mükemmel bir mükemmeliyetçi olmak, kendine merhamet, kendini tüketme ve iyileşme ihtiyacı, acı eşiği ve yaralanmaların iyileşmesi, ideal vücutun tehlikeli eşiği, fan psikolojisi, başarılı takımlar, yetenek ve gelişmesi, spor ebeveyni olmak ve yaşlanan atletler ve emeklilik başlıklarına değinilmiş.
Hepimizin içinde her dönemde kendimizi değiştirecek potansiyel var(mış). Elbette olimpik atlet veya dünya çapında piyanist olmak için genç yaşta başlamak lazım(mış) ama, bu kitap bu değişimin yolunun nasıl açılabileceği de anlatıyor.
Kitap yarım saatlik 24 dersten oluşuyor: Spor ve performans psikolojisinin tanımı ve tarihçesi, düzenli pratik, performans için gerekli değerler ve hedefler, farkındaklık (budist meditasyon tekniklerine dersler boyunca oldukça ağırlık verilmiş, ve detayla teknikler anlatılıyor ve uygulama yapılıyor), pozitif düşünce her zaman işe yaramaz, kabullenmek ve irade göstermek, söz vermek, iç motivasyonu bulmak, eyleme geçmeden önce kafada canlandırma teknikleri, güven ve kendi kendine konuşma, odaklanmış dikkati geliştirmek, batıl inançlar-ritüeller ve rutinler, performans kaygısı, mükemmel bir mükemmeliyetçi olmak, kendine merhamet, kendini tüketme ve iyileşme ihtiyacı, acı eşiği ve yaralanmaların iyileşmesi, ideal vücutun tehlikeli eşiği, fan psikolojisi, başarılı takımlar, yetenek ve gelişmesi, spor ebeveyni olmak ve yaşlanan atletler ve emeklilik başlıklarına değinilmiş.
Hepimizin içinde her dönemde kendimizi değiştirecek potansiyel var(mış). Elbette olimpik atlet veya dünya çapında piyanist olmak için genç yaşta başlamak lazım(mış) ama, bu kitap bu değişimin yolunun nasıl açılabileceği de anlatıyor.
October 24, 2020
The why behind athletic performance and how athletes are coached is not a million miles away for the techniques for non-athletes. Learning and understanding from athletic coaches I feel will help both individuals ad coaches alike
October 5, 2024
The first chapter on the history of the discipline is not worth listening to. After that the material is gold, especially the lecture about being a parent of an athlete. He has some really great advice for parents. A lot of his advice can be applied to other areas of life as well.
May 14, 2019
Eddie O’Connor explains how positive thinking will not get you where you want to go. Instead of positive thinking, you can instead learn mindfulness techniques to help you overcome blocks to your performance. Or, rather, acceptance will help with the blocks.
I liked the part where he explained the idea that that 10,000 to expertise is a misnomer. It may take less time or it may take more time. And even as an expert you have to keep practicing to stay on top of your game.
To make practice more productive you should implement focused practice. There are three steps:Focus (doing the skill); Feedback (determine what needs to be improved), and Fix (make the change and see how your performance changes).
I liked the take on anxiety. He explains how the brain is designed to spot trouble and make us aware of the issues so that we can plan for a resolution. It is not saying what WILL go wrong but rather what COULD go wrong. This helped me because i always thought that anxiety was saying that something was going wrong. Now i can use the energy to move forward.
Although this book is designed for those in sports, I was able to glean information that will help me in my day-to-day life.
I liked the part where he explained the idea that that 10,000 to expertise is a misnomer. It may take less time or it may take more time. And even as an expert you have to keep practicing to stay on top of your game.
To make practice more productive you should implement focused practice. There are three steps:Focus (doing the skill); Feedback (determine what needs to be improved), and Fix (make the change and see how your performance changes).
I liked the take on anxiety. He explains how the brain is designed to spot trouble and make us aware of the issues so that we can plan for a resolution. It is not saying what WILL go wrong but rather what COULD go wrong. This helped me because i always thought that anxiety was saying that something was going wrong. Now i can use the energy to move forward.
Although this book is designed for those in sports, I was able to glean information that will help me in my day-to-day life.
July 22, 2019
Performance psychology through the metaphor of sports. Although, I believe most of the concepts are applicable to any of life’s competitions or challenges. I found the lectures on developing intrinsic motivation, focused attention when practicing, visualizing goals, and meditation to attain better focus to be particularly helpful. Practicing these habits won’t suddenly make you an Olympic athlete or a CEO, but it will likely give you an edge over your peers and in time make you better than most.
April 29, 2024
As someone deeply invested in personal development and mindfulness, "Psychology of Performance" has been an enlightening addition to my journey. I experienced this book through its audiobook format, which allowed me to absorb its rich content during my daily routines. This book is not just about enhancing athletic performance but is a comprehensive guide that applies psychological principles to all areas of life—be it personal ambitions, professional goals, or interpersonal relationships.
What resonated most with me was the detailed exploration of mindfulness techniques. As a daily practitioner of meditation, I found the book's approach to mindfulness particularly valuable. Meditation, for me, has been a crucial practice for overcoming deep personal challenges and enhancing my decision-making abilities with a calm and composed mind.
"Psychology of Performance" reinforces the concept that meditation is the art of letting go. Through letting go, we gain greater control over our emotions and reasoning processes, which is essential for anyone looking to improve their mental state and overall performance. The book effectively bridges the gap between traditional psychological methods and the practical application of mindfulness.
I recommend this audiobook to anyone who is seeking to integrate high-level mindfulness practices into daily life. It's hard work, but if you're persistent, when you start seeing the changes and effects it produces, you will be a different, better person.
What resonated most with me was the detailed exploration of mindfulness techniques. As a daily practitioner of meditation, I found the book's approach to mindfulness particularly valuable. Meditation, for me, has been a crucial practice for overcoming deep personal challenges and enhancing my decision-making abilities with a calm and composed mind.
"Psychology of Performance" reinforces the concept that meditation is the art of letting go. Through letting go, we gain greater control over our emotions and reasoning processes, which is essential for anyone looking to improve their mental state and overall performance. The book effectively bridges the gap between traditional psychological methods and the practical application of mindfulness.
I recommend this audiobook to anyone who is seeking to integrate high-level mindfulness practices into daily life. It's hard work, but if you're persistent, when you start seeing the changes and effects it produces, you will be a different, better person.
October 24, 2019
3.5
Ok, not great. I didn't come across anything truly earth-shattering that changed my entire outlook on improving performance. instead it reinforced and perhaps aided my current methods.
Some notes:
* Correct Practice includes: FFF (Focus, Feedback, Fix)
* Positive Thinking doesn't always work. In Fact, negative thinking can be good and is normal as well.
* Change your thought process: "I want to work out *BUT* i'm tired" versus "I want to work out *AND i'm tired." Work-out and tired are then not mutually exclusive.
* Self-Compassion: Treat yourself as well as you would treat a teammate.
Ok, not great. I didn't come across anything truly earth-shattering that changed my entire outlook on improving performance. instead it reinforced and perhaps aided my current methods.
Some notes:
* Correct Practice includes: FFF (Focus, Feedback, Fix)
* Positive Thinking doesn't always work. In Fact, negative thinking can be good and is normal as well.
* Change your thought process: "I want to work out *BUT* i'm tired" versus "I want to work out *AND i'm tired." Work-out and tired are then not mutually exclusive.
* Self-Compassion: Treat yourself as well as you would treat a teammate.
October 14, 2019
Intresting book overall. I was expecting more ellaboration on the lessons learned from sports psychology and how can you apply them in life in general, as the title suggests, and especially for projects that demand high level of performance. But I was suprised that one of the topics is how to be a good sport parent. Apart from this, there are a few tips here and there that you can pick if your objective is what the title promises.
August 18, 2019
This course was 100% more fascinating than I had expected! As a budding runner and psychiatric nurse practitioner this had a special appeal to me, and I was NOT disappointed!
I learned so much. Thank you for this gem
I learned so much. Thank you for this gem
September 18, 2019
Great set of lectures on how to get good at anything you want. More than just "practice 10,000 hours", this went quite deep into the mental aspects of getting to be excellent. I really liked it, and found myself talking about the concepts with my family quite often.
December 29, 2020
Very specific to sports, but still has some worthwhile lessons that can be applied more broadly. It’s impressive how much emotion can have an impact in people’s performance; this needs to be trained as much as any other physical aspect.
January 5, 2022
The book tackles a good variety of topics: from aging athletes to parents, from burnout to motivation. It provides ample descriptions of issues and theories, but it provides very few solutions and exercises.
July 27, 2018
Really interesting set of lectures about performance and the skills the pros use to improve in their specialties daily. I got a lot out of it, and enjoyed this book!
February 20, 2019
I learned a lot from these lectures about habit forming, productivity and deep work. I will visit these lectures again.
May 9, 2019
-1 star for its length and being only 10% concerned with non athletes (90% geared toward sports)
+1 star for the Dr. being a sharp dude and for its companion PDF workbook
+1 star for the Dr. being a sharp dude and for its companion PDF workbook
September 6, 2019
nice overview of psychological techniques used in sports psychology
February 29, 2020
Wish I had learned this three decades ago, and before I started coaching. One of the best “How to” series I have read.
April 2, 2020
An excellent book on how to perform better. I am glad that I listened to this and I look forward to using these patterns in my life.
October 30, 2020
Great coverage of all aspects in sports.
April 8, 2021
Mainly geared towards sports and particularly elite athletes.
May 4, 2021
The title is very misleading...all sports and athletes...blah
May 6, 2022
Great course overall, I just wished it went a bit more in depth sometimes, and there should have been a chapter on just bibliography and how to continue our studies on the topic.
December 20, 2023
Listened to this lecture series: I like Eddie. Bit too psyrinkie = was hoping for more 'this is how I preformed my best' - give me some performance hacks..!
May 12, 2020
Summary:
I thought this would be a bit dry, but I found it really interesting. The author presents a research based holistic assessment of performance and how people become exceptional. The key message is really just deliberate practice.
The author's summary of the psychology of performance puts it best: It comes down to work. Excellence is not normal, it's not natural. If you want to be in the top 1%, you have to do what 99% of the other people aren't able or willing to do. The pursuit of excellence is painful and often unpleasant. We see the incredible results, but don't spend enough time looking behind the scenes on what it takes to get there.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in excelling.
The main message I took from this book is that talent is nothing without discipline.
Some notable points:
- Talent, if it even exists, is highly overrated. You can do anything, but at an incredible cost and at an incredible investment.
- Focus. Feedback. Fix. This drives you forward and makes every repetition count. This is deliberate practice.
- You can't be an expert and be well rounded.
- You can't prevent a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent it from making a nest in your hair.
- A good between performance routine is the Jim Taylor's 4 Rs: Rest, Regroup, Refocus and Recharge.
- Structured routines that improve performance are the preferred alternative to superstitions an rituals.
- Burnout is a psychological syndrome where an individual is low on three dimensions energy, involvement and efficacy.
I thought this would be a bit dry, but I found it really interesting. The author presents a research based holistic assessment of performance and how people become exceptional. The key message is really just deliberate practice.
The author's summary of the psychology of performance puts it best: It comes down to work. Excellence is not normal, it's not natural. If you want to be in the top 1%, you have to do what 99% of the other people aren't able or willing to do. The pursuit of excellence is painful and often unpleasant. We see the incredible results, but don't spend enough time looking behind the scenes on what it takes to get there.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in excelling.
The main message I took from this book is that talent is nothing without discipline.
Some notable points:
- Talent, if it even exists, is highly overrated. You can do anything, but at an incredible cost and at an incredible investment.
- Focus. Feedback. Fix. This drives you forward and makes every repetition count. This is deliberate practice.
- You can't be an expert and be well rounded.
- You can't prevent a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent it from making a nest in your hair.
- A good between performance routine is the Jim Taylor's 4 Rs: Rest, Regroup, Refocus and Recharge.
- Structured routines that improve performance are the preferred alternative to superstitions an rituals.
- Burnout is a psychological syndrome where an individual is low on three dimensions energy, involvement and efficacy.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews