Post-Performance Reflection: The “Unspoken Tool”

The providers at Areté Performance Consulting have honed their expertise as Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC) with a specialized focus on developing the mental acuity of elite athletes from the MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL over the last five years. They are deeply committed to unlocking the potential of each individual by emphasizing the importance of cultivating mental skills that are essential for peak performance.

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Oftentimes people overfocuses on the number of physical repetitions, without fully understanding that there are numerous ways of improvement, and sometimes, without having to exert physical energy.

It’s no secret that top athletes possess an uncanny ability to recall and analyze their performances with precision. Most of us human beings have a similar tool, it is part of our human nature to replay repeatedly situations that we have gone through, the biggest difference is that top athletes, when given the opportunity to build a framework around it, do it with a lot more intentionality.

Today we will offer you a framework that is used by professional and Olympic athletes, as well as high performers in different fields like first responders, medicine, and business. This framework is the “WWW & WWI,” which means “What Went Well? & What’s Worth Improving?” (Gibbs, 1988) introduced the “Gibb’s Reflective Cycle” that includes 6 stages in the reflection process to create a more structure debrief and support experiential learning, and since then, different frameworks have been created for the usage of high performance.

But why is this tool so important and not spoken about much? The answer lies in the power of self-awareness, which is one of the most important mental skills, in a field that people are still learning more and more about as the time goes on.

According to Glaser (2014), self-awareness is the key to monitoring and evaluation one’s own performance. Performers who take this tool and apply it after each performance will see growth in different skills and abilities such as skill development and execution, emotional regulation, and stronger levels of focus and intentionality.

We all know from observation, experience, and even different interactions that athletes tend to have a harder time letting go of mistakes, and this practice, because of its strength-based approach focus allows the athletes to increase their level of self-compassion, minimizing their sense of perfectionism.

In summary, post-performance reflection exercises such as “WWW & WWI” emerge as a crucial element in optimizing athletic performance. Focus on identifying two things that you did well, and one thing that you would like to improve next time you get to perform.

It is often that coaches tell athletes that they need to become their “own coach,” and this tool will equip the athletes with the insights needed to refine skills, regulate emotions, and enhance their overall performance.

Embracing this practice will allow athletes to unlock their full potential and excel in competitive endeavors.