Stop Thinking Positive. Start Looking Outward.
I was sitting on my couch reading a textbook on perception, cognition, and decision training when I came across something that completely changed how I coach high-performers under pressure.
The book was by Joan Vickers, a pioneer in understanding how the neurobiology of the body reacts when feeling pressure. She talked about developing what she calls “the quiet eye.”
It’s such a perfect term for what separates elite performers from everyone else.
But here’s what shocked me: this incredibly powerful technique is taught by maybe eight people on the planet. Meanwhile, millions are getting terrible advice about positive self-talk and internal motivation.
The Problem With “Move Your Feet”
Let me give you an example that will make this crystal clear.
In hockey, when a player is struggling and their legs feel heavy, coaches constantly yell from the sidelines:
“Move your feet! Move your feet!”
This becomes the language athletes use when they’re not performing well. You’ll hear them say,
“I just didn’t have my legs tonight.”
When I work with a professional player for the first time and hear this, I know exactly what their internal playbook looks like. They’re trying to solve pressure and poor performance by turning their attention inward.
And I tell them directly:
“That’s a terrible way to approach this. You’ve been doing it for 20 years. If you’re honest with me, how’s that worked for your career?”
If they’re being truthful, they admit it doesn’t work very well.
Why Internal Focus Creates More Pressure
Here’s what’s happening neurologically when you turn your attention inward during pressure moments:
Your brain is already dealing with stress chemicals. When you add internal commands like “move your feet” or “stay calm” or “think positive,” you’re essentially asking your nervous system to multitask under pressure.
It’s like trying to solve a complex problem while someone is shouting instructions at you. Instead of helping, it creates more cognitive load.
The moment you take your attention out of whatever is going on inside your head and bring it outward, everything else calms down.
Look, Don’t Think
Instead of “move your feet,” I teach athletes a single word: “Look” or “Find.”
Here’s an example:
When a hockey player comes off the ice feeling like they’re out of the game, they follow a simple routine. They grab their water bottle, get some water, and then – if they’re feeling disconnected – they find a specific spot on the ice and stare at it.
Not just glance at it. Stare at it.
Why does this work? Because the moment you direct your attention to something outside yourself, your entire system begins to regulate. Your breathing calms. Your tension decreases. Your focus sharpens.
You don’t think “turn the wheel 15 degrees left” when driving. You look where you want to go and your hands naturally steer you there.
The same principle applies to performance: you look where you want to go, and your body follows.
The Coaching Connection
This isn’t just for athletes. I use the exact same principle in my coaching conversations with business owners and their teams.
Instead of trying to manage my own internal state during a session, I pay attention to the specific words my clients choose.
When someone says, “I’m just getting really stressed about this project,” I focus externally on that word choice.
“How do you mean stressed?” I’ll ask.
By directing my attention outward – to their specific language rather than my internal coaching thoughts – I stay present and often discover they’re not actually stressed. They just don’t have the right vocabulary to describe what’s really happening.
This external focus allows me to help them more effectively than any positive self-talk ever could.
When The Game Is Business
The best leaders I work with naturally use external focus without realizing it. They’re not thinking about how they’re coming across or managing their own performance. They’re completely absorbed in understanding the person in front of them.
They listen for word choices. They watch for nonverbal cues. They pay attention to what’s not being said.
This external orientation makes them exponentially more effective than leaders who are internally focused on their own performance.
When Stakes Are High
Here’s what works when you can’t afford to choke:
Instead of internal commands during pressure situations:
- “I need to be more confident”
- “I should stay calm”
- “Think positive thoughts”
Try external focus techniques:
- Look directly at the person you’re speaking with and notice one specific detail about them
- Find a particular object in the room and hold your attention there for three seconds
- Listen for the exact words the other person uses and repeat them back
Each of these techniques gives your nervous system something concrete to focus on instead of trying to manage your internal experience.
Why This Works
There’s solid neuroscience behind this technique. When you direct your attention externally, you activate the parts of your brain responsible for focus and awareness while calming the areas associated with self-judgment and internal chatter.
It’s not about suppressing negative thoughts or replacing them with positive ones. It’s about redirecting your attention to something more useful.
External focus gives your brain a job that actually serves your performance rather than interfering with it.
Start Small, Win Big
Start small. Next time you feel pressure building:
- Identify the feeling – “I’m getting anxious about this presentation”
- Find something specific to look at – the back wall of the room, a particular person’s eyes, the corner of your notes
- Hold your attention there for 5-10 seconds
- Notice the shift in your internal state
Practice this when the stakes are low so it’s available when the stakes are high.
Your Quiet Eye
Joan Vickers was onto something revolutionary with her ‘quiet eye’ research. The ability to direct your attention externally, especially under pressure, might be the most underutilized performance tool available.
While everyone else is trying to think their way to better performance, you’ll be looking your way there.
Your attention is your most valuable resource. Stop wasting it on internal management and start using it for external mastery.
The next time pressure builds, don’t think positive. Look outward.
Your performance will follow.
Be Bold. Take Action. Leave a Mark.
Todd Herman
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