The Role of Gratitude in Performance

It’s not simply about thanking others!

There is a growing body of research that shows how the regular practice of gratitude positively impacts a performer’s resilience, self-esteem, and actual performance (Chen & Wu, 2014; Gabana et al., 2019). It also helps prevent both physical and emotional burnout (Chen et al., 2021).

How do we define Gratitude?

A sense of thankfulness that emerges in response to any kind of benefit that one receives or as an act of expressing appreciation directed towards another or expressed privately (Gabana, 2019).

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“See it, believe it.”

Imagery, sometimes called visualization or mental rehearsal, is widely used by athletes, business professionals, musicians, and almost anyone looking to enhance their performance. It involves creating mental images of your performance to help you perform better under pressure, improve skills, evoke emotions, or create an immersive mental experience (Ramsey et al., 2010). I should also emphasize that Imagery is a mental skill; like all skills, it requires practice.

How does Imagery foster confidence and enhance performance?

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What can this French Philosopher teach coaches about mental toughness?

The late French Philosopher Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was well known for his explorations of power, control, and social discourse. He was particularly critical of how political institutions organize and control workers, students, soldiers, and prisoners to the extent that they surrender their power and become passive and docile bodies (Denison & Mills, 2014). Although this criticism emerged from the social-political sphere, they are also applicable to sports coaching, particularly when coaching becomes mainly about the power to control, monitor, and intervene to the extent that athletes become passive learners.

High Discipline + High Control = High Performance?

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