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The Inner Game Approach
The Inner Game provides principles, methods, and tools to learn to get out of your own way so you can express your full potential in whatever your chosen activity. The fundamental methods for overcoming self-interference described in the Inner Game series of books are similar, no matter what outer game is being played. For example, if a person learns the art of relaxed focus of attention in one activity, that skill can be applied to any other activity. This provides great leverage for anyone attempting to maximize excellence in any field.
In simple terms the game can be summarized in a formula: Performance = potential-interference, P=p-i. According to this formula, performance can be enhanced either by growing "p" potential or by decreasing "i," interference.
It is impossible to achieve mastery or satisfaction in any endeavor without first developing some degree of mastery of the relatively neglected skills of the inner game. Most of us have experienced days when our self-interference was at a minimum. Whether on a sports field, at work, or in some creative effort, we have all had moments in which our actions flowed from us with a kind of effortless excellence. Athletes have called this state, "playing in the zone." Generally at these times our mind is quiet and focused. But whatever it's called, when we're there, we excel, we learn, and we enjoy ourselves. Unfortunately most of us have also experienced times when everything we do seems difficult. With minds filled with self-criticism, hesitation, and over-analysis, our actions were awkward, mis-timed, and ineffective. Obviously we all would prefer to have more of the first and less of the second.
John Whitmore, Bob Kriegel and Tim Gallwey together in the United States recalling 30 years of pioneering the industry together – November 2007
The Impact of the Inner Game and Sir John Whitmore on Coaching
Source: Annual Review of High Performance Coaching & Consulting
When individuals work together in teams both their potential and their "self-interference" can combine. When the self-interferences of team members play off of one another, the interference multiplies and the effective work of such a team is greatly diminished. We have all experienced this. Likewise when the potential of team members is combined and a minimum of interference is brought to the table, the team is capable of producing results well beyond the mere sum of the potential of its members.
All outer games differ, but the inner game is always the same.
Besides sports, Tim's training methods have been applied to the fields of business, health, and education. Through lectures, consulting, and seminars, his focus has been directed at three targets:
- helping all individuals in a company learn how to learn, and think for themselves
- helping managers learn how to coach,
- helping leaders learn to create "learning organizations.
The Inner Game of Work (Keynote Address)
In the new economy, where individual and collective knowledge is our most valuable asset, the ability to access and develop our ability to learn is paramount. However, all people bring with them habits of self-interference that get in the way of the use of their potential to perform and to learn. In this lecture Gallwey re-defines work itself in such a way that participants see that learning and enjoyment are as integral to successful work as high standards of performance. Topics may include:
- The power of re-defining work
- Sustaining a state of focus at work
- Mobility - the ability to move towards desired outcomes in a fulfilling and timely manner.
- Thinking like a CEO
- Maximizing learning from one's own experience
- Coaching others to maximum performance.
Manager as Coach (Keynote Address)
"Learning how to learn may be the most critical skill in an age of change." Coaching is the capability that facilitates the learning, growth, and the best performance out of individuals and teams. Understanding how to coach is now an indispensable tool for the leaders and managers of corporations committed to the development of their people. Gallwey is recognized as one of the pioneers and most influential thinkers in the emerging field of executive coaching.
Inner Game Coaching Clinics
Where facilities allow, the above presentations can be supplemented by a demonstration on the tennis court or driving range of the application of Inner Game methods to various aspects of learning and skill development. Volunteers are coached by Tim and when desired, have the chance to use the coaching techniques they learn to coach each other. The process is dramatic, entertaining, and educational. Seeing the results of Inner Game coaching on peers creates insight and strong desire to make application to various dimensions of learning and work. The demonstration includes:
- The flaws of traditional coaching. A satirical demonstration of traditional methods of coaching making all too obvious how they sow the seeds of self-interference in the learner.
- How to coach focus of attention. Volunteers are coached using Inner Game methods of focus of attention, usually with dramatic, observable improvement in results.
- Making a change. A volunteer with a persistent 'bad habit' is shown a strikingly different way to go about unlearning an old habit—without "trying." Similar methods are demonstrated to learn something new.
- Overcoming fear of failure. Performing in front of one's peers is likely to evoke normal levels of fear and resulting interference with performance. Techniques for coaching a person to overcome such interferences are demonstrated.
- Applications of what is demonstrated to the workplace are discussed along the way.
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