Today’s blog post question is inspired by my client’s feedback. They noted that adjusting their expectations to accept something other than what they’d planned didn’t mean things weren’t going well.

As an athlete or sportsperson (and in your professional or domestic roles) you’ll often use visualisation as a means of preparing yourself for what is to come. This allows you to plan ahead and picture the scene. If you have a positive outlook, you’ll generally see yourself completing a task and this equates to a successful outcome. What happens when you don’t complete the task or the outcome is not as you’d envisaged? Does this make your effort unsuccessful?

If you work with a coach, manager, mentor or other tutor who empowers you with the ability to choose and make decisions, they will most likely have encouraged you to always plan for the unexpected or to consider multiple possible outcomes with reference to your goals. In the process of considering the different outcomes you will practice different tasks, learn new skills and become an adaptive, dynamic and multi-dimensional athlete. You will be prepared to accept differences. If you realise you are not empowered (either by your own volition or in a coach-athlete relationship) it is time to make changes.

Another way of considering this question is to adopt a neutral observer’s perspective. They will not know what your expectations are and subsequently are not bound by them; they can literally see things from a different angle and remain open to opportunities or solutions you may not be considering.

This is never about lowering your expectations; instead about being adaptable with them.