What will I learn about: how to transform debilitating pre-performance anxiety into powerful excitement simply by verbally declaring "I'm so excited" before an event?

Discover how to transform debilitating pre-performance anxiety into powerful excitement simply by verbally declaring "I'm so excited" before an event.

What will I learn about: Learn to regain focus under pressure using a martial arts centering technique that concentrates your body's energy just beneath your belly button before releasing it?

Learn to regain focus under pressure using a martial arts centering technique that concentrates your body's energy just beneath your belly button before releasing it.

What will I learn about: why adopting consistent pre-performance rituals, whether individually or as a team, dramatically improves your execution and camaraderie?

Understand why adopting consistent pre-performance rituals, whether individually or as a team, dramatically improves your execution and camaraderie.

What will I learn about: how the psychological phenomenon of "positive contagion" can instantly boost your abilities just by believing you are using tools previously owned by experts?

Find out how the psychological phenomenon of "positive contagion" can instantly boost your abilities just by believing you are using tools previously owned by experts.

What will I learn about: the art of staying cool during high-stakes presentations by relying on a fully memorized, "autopilot" introduction to seamlessly engage your audience?

Master the art of staying cool during high-stakes presentations by relying on a fully memorized, "autopilot" introduction to seamlessly engage your audience.

Psyched Up

How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed

Daniel McGinn

★ 4.2 / 5(65 ratings)

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Categories:

Career & Success Psychology Personal Development

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that trying to 'calm down' before a high-pressure moment is actually counterproductive, and there’s a much more effective way to channel your nerves?
💡What if you could use the same scientifically-proven 'pre-game' rituals as elite athletes and surgeons to ensure you’re at your best when it matters most?
💡Are you curious about the secret psychology behind why having a rival can actually be the key to unlocking your highest level of success?

Listen to Psyched Up — Free Audiobook

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Key Takeaways from Psyched Up

✓Discover how to transform debilitating pre-performance anxiety into powerful excitement simply by verbally declaring "I'm so excited" before an event.
✓Learn to regain focus under pressure using a martial arts centering technique that concentrates your body's energy just beneath your belly button before releasing it.
✓Understand why adopting consistent pre-performance rituals, whether individually or as a team, dramatically improves your execution and camaraderie.
✓Find out how the psychological phenomenon of "positive contagion" can instantly boost your abilities just by believing you are using tools previously owned by experts.
✓Master the art of staying cool during high-stakes presentations by relying on a fully memorized, "autopilot" introduction to seamlessly engage your audience.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Psyched Up

Mind Map

Psyched Up

Managing Anxiety+

Rituals & Beliefs+

Mental States & Priming+

Effective Pep Talks+

Power of Music+

Competition & Rivalry+

Performance-Enhancing Drugs+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

According to Alison Brooks's research, what is the most effective way to deal with pre-performance anxiety?

A. Trying to remain as calm and quiet as possible.
B. Reappraising the anxiety by telling yourself you are excited.
C. Ignoring the physical symptoms until they naturally subside.
D. Visualizing a successful outcome to significantly lower your heart rate.

Question 2 of 8

What does the concept of 'positive contagion' refer to in the context of performance improvement?

A. The tendency of team members to adopt the positive attitude of their leader.
B. The physical phenomenon where athletes' heart rates synchronize during group rituals.
C. The belief that objects can be imbued with the powers and skills of the people who previously touched them.
D. The rapid spread of excitement through an audience during a live performance.

Question 3 of 8

Why might a speaker intentionally rely on Daniel Kahneman's 'System 1' cognition (autopilot) during the introduction of a presentation?

A. To help them stay cool under pressure by using a deeply memorized, reflexive routine.
B. To ensure they are speaking slowly and deliberately to the audience.
C. To consciously analyze the audience's reactions before moving to the main topic.
D. To prime the audience with specific words that encourage active listening.

Question 4 of 8

To put listeners in a 'growth mindset' during a pep talk, what should the speaker emphasize?

A. The final score or desired output of the event.
B. The opponent's weaknesses and past failures.
C. The amount of effort and execution the team contributes.
D. The prestigious history of the team or organization.

Question 5 of 8

According to Tiffanye Vargas's research, when is it most effective for a coach to use an information-heavy, factual speech rather than an emotional one?

A. When the team is considered a massive underdog.
B. Right before the team competes in a high-stakes championship match.
C. When the team is playing against a completely new opponent or recently suffered a narrow loss to them.
D. When the coach wants to intimidate the opposing team before they take the field.

Question 6 of 8

How does listening to highly motivational music physically improve athletic performance?

A. It completely suppresses the body's fight-or-flight response.
B. It causes the athlete to move in sync with the beat, which energizes them and reduces their perception of exertion.
C. It shifts the brain into 'System 2' cognition, increasing focus and strategic thinking.
D. It lowers blood pressure and respiratory rates to conserve energy for the end of the workout.

Question 7 of 8

What did researcher Gavin Kilduff discover about the effects of rivalry on performance?

A. Competing against a known rival provides more motivation and better performance than competing against a stranger.
B. Rivalries often distract competitors, leading to more frequent mistakes compared to unpaced events.
C. Athletes perform best when they are racing against the clock rather than direct rivals.
D. Inducing rivalry in a business setting generally lowers team morale and decreases stock prices.

Question 8 of 8

Why do some individuals, like journalist Scott Stossel, take the beta blocker propranolol before high-pressure situations?

A. It acts as a stimulant that helps them enter a state of concentrated flow.
B. It eliminates the need for extensive preparation by placing the brain on autopilot.
C. It inhibits the body's reaction to adrenaline, thereby reducing the physical symptoms of performance anxiety.
D. It subconsciously primes the speaker to use more confident and polite language.

Psyched Up — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2You can manage performance anxiety by reappraising it and centering yourself effectively.
3Routines and beliefs can enhance your performance.
4Knowing when to switch to autopilot can boost performance, and priming may influence it, too.
5When delivering pep talks, place listeners in a growth mindset and tailor the content to the situation at hand.
6Use music to boost your physical performance.
7Competition and rivalry enhance performance.
8Some people find performance-enhancing drugs helpful, but they may cause dangerous side effects.

Psyched Up Summary & Overview

Psyched Up (2017) takes on the subject of performance. It looks at how top performers in a variety of fields psych themselves up for action and provides actionable advice to help you prepare and perform better.

Who Should Listen to Psyched Up?

Those who experience performance anxiety
People curious about the psychology of top performers
Underperformers trying to get back on top of their game

About the Author: Daniel McGinn

Daniel McGinn is an author and journalist. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Wired and the Boston Globe magazine. He also serves as an editor of the Harvard Business Review.

Psyched Up

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Psyched Up — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Psyched Up

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Psyched Up — Full Chapter Overview

Psyched Up Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Psyched Up?

About the Author: Daniel McGinn

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