How to Coach Yourself and Others Better Coaching Through Visualisation | Page 16

Using it as a technique invariably results in a much better
performance and outcome. This also holds true in business or in life
such as in delivering a speech, asking for a raise or any other
situation that requires preparedness and forethought.
1.5 What Makes It Work?
Visualization or mental imagery works because when you imagine
yourself performing perfectly and doing exactly what you want, you
physiologically create neural patterns in your brain, just as if you
had physically performed the action. The thought can stimulate the
nervous system in the same way as the actual event does.
Performing or rehearsing an event in the mind trains it and creates
the neural patterns to teach our muscles to do exactly what we want
them to do.
In the case of competitive sports, not only are exceptional physical
skills required, but so is a strong mental game. Most coaches preach
that sports are 90% mental and only 10% physical. That's why so
many athletes train in visualization or mental imagery along with
their physical routines.
To be effective, like any skill, mental imagery needs to be practiced
regularly. The four elements to mental imagery are relaxation,
realism, regularity and reinforcement.
Creative visualization is a very useful way to contribute to
successful goal achievement. In this procedure you use your
imagination to create a clear picture in your mind of whatever you
want to take place in your life.

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