Enjoying flow of play experiences

More than three decades of research shows that focus on effort — not intelligence or ability — is the key to success in school and in life — Carol S. Dweck

Psychologists involved in studying the motivation and achievements of sportspersons over the past three decades are now almost unanimous that the traditional winner-takes-all philosophy does little to encourage performance. Instead, there’s an emerging consensus that focusing on improvement and mastery is the key to achievement, enjoyment and staying power for all athletes — professional to recreational.

One of the brightest stars on the subject of motivation and achievement, is Dr. Carol Dweck, a professor at Stanford University. In her fascinating book Mindset (2006) she contradicts the popular belief that talent and innate ability are the prerequisites of success.

Instead, she argues that while talent is important, the key to success in any field of endeavour is having the right mindset. She distinguishes between a “fixed” mindset — one in which we believe that our intelligence, personality and character are carved in stone — and a “growth” mindset in which we perceive that natural talents are simply a starting point for development through sustained effort. In Mindset, she demonstrates how people with growth mindsets can develop habits of learning and personal improvement which can propel them to great heights of achievement. And she demonstrates how all of us can develop a growth mindset.

The two mindsets Dr. Dweck has identified have enormous implications for athletes, coaches and sports-loving parents. If your child or teen does something well, either on the playing field or in the classroom, Dweck’s research offers clear guidance on how to build on achievement and move towards perfection.

For example, you might say, “Wow, that was great play. You are really good!” This focus on talent reinforces a fixed mindset and the idea that your child has little or no control over her development. A tough challenge in the future becomes even tougher because talented people aren’t supposed to be stumped by a challenge.

On the other hand, you could say, “Wow, that was great play. You’ve really been working hard, and it’s paying off.” This reinforces a growth mindset that good performance is a result of effort. Such intelligent encouragement prompts children to try harder when confronted with challenges.

Whenever possible, coaches and parents should stress the importance of effort in helping people improve and learn. This means consciously stopping short of attributing any success that your son or daughter attains to talent or intelligence. Focusing on talent rather than effort endangers a person’s ability to strive when faced with unanticipated challenges.

In my work with young people today, I feel successful if I can get students and young athletes to make unprecedented effort. But I’m overjoyed if I can help them enjoy the process of making the effort.

Often, it isn’t clear to sportspersons how much they enjoy making the big leap forward until the experience is over. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990), notes how our sentiment about an experience can mature over time: “Closing a contested business deal, or any piece of work well done, is enjoyable. None of these experiences may be particularly pleasurable at the time they are taking place, but afterward we think back on them and say: ‘That was really fun and wish they would happen again.’”

In all co-curricular or sports activity, enjoyment is of the essence. Passion is essential for moving forward. My message to youth is they shouldn’t wait for the coach or parent to push them. They should choose sports and activities they love engaging in. Perhaps, not every minute, but most of the time.

Students make their passage through school preparing for life to become doctors, lawyers and so forth. And doctors and lawyers wait for five o’clock so they can leave work, may be catch a game or contest on television, and sit around and talk of the good old days when they were young players or athletes. I wish someone had pointed out to me in my youth what I share with you now: the experience of play — whatever game or sport — is very special, something you will look back on with nostalgic pleasure all your life. I encourage you to value your play and sports experiences even while you are practising.

My appeal to young people is to become aware of the specialness of sports and athletics while they are going through it, not 20 years later. As a coach and mentor, my mission is to help youth I am privileged to work with, experience what took me decades to learn — that effort and enjoyment aren’t incompatible. In fact, they can be experienced simultaneously in intriguing and joyful ways.

(Dr. George A. Selleck is a San Francisco-based advisor to EduSports, Bangalore)