Clinical & Sports Consulting Services
Motivation:
The Fuel for Success
John P. Sullivan, Psy.D.
Sport Psychologist
Clinical & Sport Consulting
Services
Ideal Performance State

Intense focus
Present orientation – in the moment
Confidence in your abilities
Calmness/relaxation
Energetic
Enjoyment/fun/joy
Alert/self-aware

Compiled from Ravissa, Miner, Loehr






The Complete Athlete
Emotional Excellence
Mental Excellence
Physical Excellence
Motivation


Why are some motivated while
others are not?
Motivation requires energy
focused in two dimensions
-Direction is choosing particular
goals over others
- Intensity is the fuel necessary
to achieve the goal
Motivation Basics
Intrinsic and Extrinsic
Motivation
 Direct and Indirect Motivation
 Sense of Control
 Personal Needs
 Can’t be seen but is FELT!!

Thinking Affects Motivation!
Feelings/Emotions
Thoughts
Behavior/Performance
SMART Goal Setting





Specific – Make goals specific
Measurable – Can you measure your
progress?
Adjustable – Can you modify your
goal based on progress?
Realistic – Make sure the goal is a
‘stretch’
Time oriented – Determine dates by
which you’d like to achieve goals
Goal Setting Ladder



Set short-term,
medium range, and
long-term goals
Conduct a
‘roadblock analysis’
of potential
barriers to goal
achievement
Mark your progress
Additional Goal Setting Tips




Goals should be positive
Goals should be precise – Set dates
by which you want to achieve
specific goals
Goals should be manageable – Don’t
get overwhelmed by setting too
many goals at once
Write down your goals – It makes
them more real
Final Words on Goal Setting
Goal Setting
A
Combination
of team and
individual
goals
maximizes
motivation
BE RELENTLESSLY POSITIVE






Provide Positive
Feedback
Maintain Responsibility
for Success
Acknowledge Growth
Points
Find Fun in What You
Do!
Visualize Success
Emphasize
Performance Over
Outcomes
Motivating Communication


Be positive
Sandwich any
criticism
between
positive
feedback/
positive
instruction
Keys to Communicating Effectively

Listen effectively
• Don’t interrupt
• Maintain good eye-contact
• Paraphrase the message to encourage
your athlete
Keys to Communicating Effectively

Express yourself correctly
- Tone and body language
communicate more than the words
we use
- Remember to be positive
- Keep in mind: ‘Would you rather
be right or effective?’
Patterns of Motivation
The Learned Helpless
Athlete
 The Fear of Failure Athlete
 The Fear of Success Athlete
 The Perfectionist Athlete
 The Under-Achieving Athlete

Learned Helpless Athlete





Redefine success
•Focus on performance
Chart improvement
Focus on short-term goals
Be positive
Arrange opportunities to succeed
Fear of Failure Athlete
Provide consistent approval
for both winning and losing
 Encourage learning from
losses
 Help emphasize the process
over outcome

Fear of Success Athletes
Provide a focus on goals
 Provide preparation for
being #1
 Help them to visualize
success
 Encourage and support both
winning and losing

The Perfectionist Athlete
Emphasize a strong association
between strong workouts and
recovery
 Reinforce enjoyment
 Create an environment of
process over outcome
 Encourage balance in their
lives

The Under-Achieving Athlete
Establish a verbal
commitment/contract
 Educate about the effortsuccess ratio

• (Success = Ability + Preparation +
Effort +Will)

Stress self-improvement
Clinical & Sports Consulting Services
Consultation for Mental Health Concerns,
Sports Performance Enhancement &
Performance Psychology
John P. Sullivan, Psy.D.
Chief Consultant
Phone: (401) 258-6754
Fax: (401) 874-5010
jpsnc@earthlink.net