APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2020 , Vol . 6
How do you build self-belief ? I have been asked this question many times .
Through observation , interviews , gathering of information and years of playing experience , I have developed a model to illustrate how an individual can build self-belief over a sustained period of time . I call it the Clear Links Model of Self-belief .
I conducted surveys with 65 tennis players from a range of levels ( average to top juniors , club and recreational players ) from 2018 to 2020 . I found that more than 90 % of those people who rated higher on the scale of self-belief were able to learn and move on from their mistakes . Whereas 85 % of players who rated lower on self-belief were not able to move on from mistakes . Unsurprisingly , out of those who ranked lower on self-belief , 63 % often question their abilities after one or two errors , and 29 % always question their abilities after one or two errors .
Bradberry ( 2009 ) describes the habit of setting small attainable goals and then recording small victories as a brilliant way to build confidence and self-belief . People with self-belief often focus on their strengths and think about their goals and values , rather than revisiting their mistakes .
Self-belief in action Piet Norval , one of my doubles partners , childhood friend and practice partner ( Olympic silver medallist , ATP Finals Doubles Champion ) provides a compelling example of the power of self-belief .
At first his highly optimistic beliefs and behaviour intrigued me . His ultra-optimistic mindset , high expectations and self-efficacy helped him to achieve performances beyond his talent level . But when questioning performers who exceeded their level of talent , I realised most had a very good recall of their own good moments , which contrasted with the general tendency to dwell on memories of their own mistakes ( survival instinct – focusing on moments of anxiety or threat ).
Piet ’ s memories would focus on different moments of the match as well as the ability to see things through a different , more optimistic lens . In doing this he was able to build a sustained high level of expectation about his future performances . I must stress that an optimistic mindset can facilitate an improvement in performance but only when in combination with a strong foundation of practice , preparation and a history of match success .
The Clear Links Model of Self-belief Let me now illustrate how the Clear Links Model of Self-Belief can be used by individuals to consciously build their self-belief . Self-belief provides the necessary foundation for confident and sustained performance when facing the challenges of sport and , indeed , life in all its aspects .
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