How to get a winning mindset: Lessons from Layne Beachley, Monique Macleod and Lisa Messenger - Women's Agenda

How to get a winning mindset: Lessons from Layne Beachley, Monique Macleod and Lisa Messenger

Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to come out on top. But not everyone has what it takes. Winning requires more than skills and expertise, it requires a winning mindset.

Last week, networking group Little Girl Big Dream learnt how to develop a winning mindset from a group of women who know what it takes to come out on top: World champion surfer Layne Beachley, Commonwealth Bank brand communications general manager Monique Macleod, and Messenger Group CEO Lisa Messenger.

They discussed the “80:20 Rule”, a rule followed by many successful athletes, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders that finds winning is 80% mental and 20% physical. This is especially true when you’re competing at an elite level as it’s the mindset that will get you over the edge.

Here’s what the presenters shared on the night about developing a winning mindset.

Start with purpose
We can’t discuss a winning mindset without talking about how you define your why.

There is always the motivation of wanting to win, everybody has that, but champions need an attitude that includes a level of motivation that goes above and beyond winning. It’s with this sense of purpose and clarity that you can then begin the journey to achieve what you desire from your life, business or profession, and enjoy longevity in your success.

So start by identifying the reasons that drive you to succeed. This sense of purpose will directly impact your resilience and mental toughness.

Get ‘flawesome’
For most of us, this one will sound new and strange. “Authenticity” has been the buzzword for brands over the past few years, but this idea of “flawesome” takes it to the next level.

Instead of denying, resisting and ignoring our flaws, we can use them to be “awesome”. This involves complete self-awareness of your shortcomings, acknowledging the reality of such flaws, being transparent about these flaws and forming a plan for dealing with them. We aren’t perfect, but it’s about knowing your strengths and playing to them.

Chase progress over perfection
Most of us instinctively spend a lot of time and energy seeking the big breakthroughs, moments that are incredibly satisfying, yet extremely hard to come by.

They’re called breakthroughs because they’re rare.

Focusing only on the breakthroughs can lead to constant disappointment and frustration, and cause you to lose sight of the smaller, incremental improvements that will form the building blocks of your success.

The payoffs of a “small win” mindset are that you can stay more motivated and focused on the present. So seek and acknowledge small improvements one day at a time.

Go for ‘we’ over ‘me’
Winning does not have to be a lonely journey; the traditional notion of winning as a solo pursuit may no longer be the case today.

So how can we collaborate to win? Relationship building is key to winning, and winning does not and should not have to depend on other people’s failures. People who generally support others to succeed are often the ones who become the most successful.

We need to build a supportive network that can hold you accountable to your goals and stimulate one another.

Which mindset are you? Monique Macleod shares her self-diagnosis tool:

Win/Lose
Do you compare yourself to other people all the time and believe that in order to succeed others must fail? To you, is success relative?

Lose/Lose
Do you think you can never achieve anything worthwhile, so why should others? Is negativity the order of the day for you? Do you criticise people who have great plans for life? Do you feel you have tried already and it didn’t work so why try again?

Win/Win
Do you dream? Do you believe that you are capable and will succeed? Do you realize that your success does not depend on other people’s failure and that to the contrary, your success depends on other people’s success?

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