“Put on your game face.”
How many times did you hear that growing up?
In locker rooms, before presentations, heading into big meetings… This idea is there’s an opportunity to shift into becoming something that’s built to win.
It could be the enforcer. The closer. The steady hand. Or even the joker. (That’s right…there’s no hard rule that says competition can’t be playful or fun.)
My highest-performing sports, leadership, or entrepreneurial clients know how to ‘flip the switch’ and transform.
The ‘nice-girl’ off the field turns into an enforcer on the field. The organized CEO, turns into a carefree dad at home. Or the quiet and shy person turns into a dynamic storyteller on stage.
[They’re not ‘wearing masks.’ They’re being intentional with how they want to show up.]
I’ve seen the opposite play out in people struggling to perform for the past three decades.
The idea of being the same person across all the areas of someone’s life, becomes a hardened cage that traps their desires for change.
Think about nature…it never limits itself to a single role. A river can both nurture and destroy—a forest cycles through growth and decay.
[Even your brain shifts between different wave states: beta for focus, alpha for calm, theta for creativity.]
Yet somewhere along the way, we got sold the myth of the “one true self.” That authenticity means consistency. That leadership means always being “the killer” on the ice or in the boardroom.
But what if that’s backward?
What if peak performance isn’t about finding your one true identity but about having the freedom to shift between many?
Think about children at play. In a single hour, they might be:
- A teacher
- A doctor, or
- A superhero
And here’s what’s fascinating–when they’re in this state of play, their brains are in theta waves . . . the same brain state associated with flow and peak performance.
Any single identity does not trap them. They’re free to be whatever the moment demands.
The ability to shift IS the superpower of the play state.
The leadership presence that works in the boardroom might be different from what your team needs in a crisis. The competitive drive that fuels your success might need to soften when building relationships.
From coaching & training peak performers across every domain, here’s what I know:
The most resilient people aren’t the ones who perfect a single identity. They’re the ones most intentional with how they want to show up.
Consider these questions:
- Have you read The Alter Ego Effect™, yet? Because it’s the ultimate method of mastering identity. (Nudge.)
- What role in your life could you build more resiliency in by redefining how you show up?
Remember: Nature doesn’t trap itself. It always finds a way. And one single identity doesn’t need to trap you, either.
Be Bold. Take Action. Leave a Mark
Todd Herman
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