In sports psychology, there’s a powerful phrase: "The inner game runs the outer game." Athletes understand that to perform at their peak, mindset and attitude are just as important as technique and skills. The same principle holds true for leaders in the workplace.
What’s Your Outer Game?
In the professional world, your outer game consists of the skills, knowledge, and strategies you develop to excel in your role. These are the practical tools – your leadership techniques, strategic approaches, and learned expertise that help you meet objectives and drive results.
Most organisations are deeply invested in honing this outer game. Over the years, I’ve attended countless workshops and conferences on management, fundraising, recruitment, and other important areas. While these sessions undoubtedly improve outer skills, there’s one vital aspect that’s often overlooked – and that’s the inner game.
Why the Inner Game Matters More Than Ever
Your inner game represents your mindset, beliefs, and attitudes – the driving forces behind your decisions, leadership style, and emotional resilience. It’s what determines how you handle stress, adapt to change, and inspire those around you. And yet, too many organisations neglect this critical aspect of leadership development.
Let’s take a real-world example from the charity sector. Recent data shows that economic factors are having little impact on charitable donations. Instead, the real challenges are internal: high turnover, exhausted teams, and blurred boundaries between work and home. It’s not a lack of skills holding people back; it’s the overwhelming mental strain of trying to balance it all.
In the past year alone, I’ve worked with countless leaders on the verge of burnout. Despite their passion for their organisations, the pressure to continually exceed expectations has left them neglecting their own wellbeing. This leads to poor decision-making, disengagement, and, eventually, high staff turnover.
The Path to Sustainable Leadership Success
If we don’t address the inner game head-on, today’s recruitment and retention crises will only deepen. We’ll continue to lose talented professionals who are burned out, disengaged, or unmotivated. So how can leaders and organisations ensure they’re cultivating a healthy, effective inner game?
It starts with investing in your mindset, resilience, and emotional intelligence – the core of who you are as a leader. When you’re clear-headed, focused, and emotionally balanced, your outer game naturally follows. You make better decisions, connect more deeply with your teams, and achieve long-term success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Take the First Step – Experience Transformative Leadership Coaching
If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your leadership and create a healthy balance between your inner and outer game, I’m here to help. I’ve worked with leaders across sectors, helping them break through mental barriers and cultivate the resilience needed for sustainable success.
Take the first step by booking a FREE coaching taster session with me, Matt. Experience firsthand the transformative power of coaching and how it can revolutionise your leadership approach. Let’s ensure you and your team are not just surviving but thriving.
What have you done to improve your inner game or that of your team? Share your thoughts below!
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