Commonsense Leadership: No Nonsense Rules for Improving Your Mental Game and Increasing Your Teams Performance

DEVELOP THE MENTAL STRENGTH TOP ATHLETES USE TO GET BETTER UNDER PRESSURE

Commonsense Leadership is the playbook for leaders who want to win. Whether your team competes for points or profits, mental aptitude is the single–most important factor separating those just surviving from the champions. Written by a sport psychology consultant who has guided the world′s greatest athletes to stardom, this game–changing resource gives leaders everywhere access to mental strategies and techniques used at the highest levels of competition.

Titles don′t make leaders, and neither do labels, which is why you′ll find this hands–on guide to exceptional leadership in the real world focused on who you are, where you want to go, and what you want to achieve. You may be surprised by the megastar athletes you read about who got to where they are with the specialized wisdom inside. Throughout this conversational narrative, world–renowned sports psychologist Jack Llewellyn shares his personal stories of developing, sharing, and practicing the everyday techniques that give people a mental edge. From the Atlanta Braves to tee–ball and the training room to the boardroom, illustrative examples prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you will encounter on your way to superior mental development.

Leaders come in many forms, but at the highest levels of achievement, they think the same, and Commonsense Leadership is your program to ascending the heights of mental sharpness.

"As a corporate leader, I think this book will have a significant impact on young corporate leaders. It fills an obvious and often ignored void in corporate life."
Mitchell Modell, Chairman/CEO/President, Modell Sporting Goods

"I met Jack in 1992 when I had just been traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees. It′s no coincidence my best years in baseball were in New York. Thank you, Jack, for helping me change my career, my life, and helping me realize how my faith could drive me on and off the field."
Paul O′Neill, former All–Star outfielder and American League batting champion, New York Yankees

Foreword xi

Preface xiii

1 Let Common Sense Be Your Guide to Leading 1

2 Recognizing Your Assets and Liabilities 15

3 Personality and Leadership 31

4 Goals and Leadership 47

5 Expectations and Leadership 61

6 Teamwork 77

7 Creating a Positive Work Environment 93

8 Leading Your Team from Habitual to Perceptual Behaviors 107

9 Teach Your Team to Visualize 121

10 Motivate the Environment, Not the Team 135

11 Lead by Thriving on Stress 147

12 Teach Your Team to Play on the Emotional Edge 163

13 Recover More Quickly from Adversity and Win 177

14 Help Your Team to Achieve Balance 189

15 Summary for Leaders: Winning versus Surviving 203

Index 215

JACK H. LLEWELLYN, PHD, is a world–renowned sports psychology consultant, speaker, corporate coach, and founder and president of the Atlanta– based Center for Winning Performance. He helps clients assess their abilities and focus on the best processes to reach goals, thrive on stress, and recover quickly from adversity in order to become top performers. He is the author of Psychology of Coaching, Let ′Em Play, Coming in First, Winning Sure Beats Losing, Tools For Life′s Spiritual Journey, and Get the Mud Out of the Water.