"There are three key factors that influence our performance - our fitness, our technical skills and our mental skills," comments Anne Calleja. "Although we spend time on our fitness and technical skills, the mental side and 'how we think' is often neglected. And yet it is amazing how good we can be at using our minds to work against us. Even before we start an activity, we can often find a number of reasons for failure - self-doubt, bad weather, lack of practice, tiredness, family pressures, even things like - 'I must just fill up the dishwasher before writing that report' etc - and we find ourselves living up (or down) to our expectations."

"Essentially, we can find ourselves performing badly because we are not using our minds in the appropriate way," continues Anne. "As a result, we can form limiting beliefs about ourselves, which hinder our performance."

"Just as in motor racing, a split second makes all the difference - being able to use our minds effectively, enhancing self-belief, and focusing on what we need to do makes a significant impact on our performance levels."

"Working together as a team, we have modelled NLP for the individual into NLP for Team Performance"

Let's take our professional motor racing driver as an example. James Walker, driving in the World Series by Renault, has a job with two goals. Firstly, his job is to win races and to achieve as many points as possible for his team - Fortec Racing. Secondly, by winning races, he will be targeted by Formula One teams and invited to join the elite racing drivers.

Whilst James's talent is paramount in beating the other drivers, the car needs to be performing at its peak. "There are 100 people in the car with me at every race", says James, "from my engineer on the radio making split second decisions about tyre strategy to our pit crew whose lightening responses can enable me to overtake over drivers whilst sitting in the pits".

Even the non-engineering part of the company is vital to James's success.

"Motor racing is a very expensive sport", continues James, "the right corporate sponsorship and marketing opportunities are necessary to keep the funds coming in to keep us competitive".

James works very closely with his engineer, Chris Gorne, his personal trainer, Stewart Wild, his manager and mentor, Tim Sugden, and his NLP Coach, Anne Calleja. The team goals are to empower James to do his job to the top of his ability and to communicate effectively both with James and the rest of the company.

"I am not just responsible for his personal fitness", says Stewart, "after a success in Monaco, I need to ensure that a modest celebration doesn't undo any of the hard work we have achieved before the next race in two weeks time". Stewart travels to all of the circuits with James and keeps him grounded.

During a race, Chris and James are the only people in radio contact. In most corporate environments, committees make decisions. In motor racing, split second decisions are needed and an ability to relate the exact situation in only a few words are essential. Chris will make the final decision so it is vital that Chris and James develop a close relationship based on trust and on open and honest communication.

"There's no point in me saying he was brilliant today", says Chris, "if I think he could have shaved 2 tenths off his qualification time. Conversely, we use many different set-ups of the car and we need James to tell us which best balances the car at a particular circuit with the prevailing weather conditions".

Anne also observes the team at work and recognised that Chris 'naturally' used some NLP techniques in his choice of words. He is very specific, knows his outcome as well as being in rapport with James when he gives feedback. For example, Chris says: "What stops you from going faster?" rather than "You need to go faster on the next lap!" He uses the present tense to convey the immediate impact of the current situation.

James's Manager, Tim Sugden, needs to help James plan his career and to keep him focussed on the immediate task in hand. "James needs his full attention on race day," says Tim,

James's NLP Coach, Anne Calleja, works to ensure that James's mindset is as finely tuned as the car. "Where Stewart will train the physical body," says Anne, "I help to train the mind. My role is to understand exactly how James thinks and why James does what he does. I 'model his internal landscape' and then come up with real practical exercises for creating his mind set as well as working with Stewart to design physical exercises to allow the 'message to get into his muscle' and also to liaise with both Tim and Chris so they can build on what I do to help to focus James at the event."

The mechanics need to trust James's judgment and to respect him, and, although a lot of communication is done through the team, James meets the mechanics regularly. James needs to use his considerable political and networking skills to help motivate everyone in the company to help him achieve all of their goals.

"Confidence and self belief are essential, but there's no point walking around like an arrogant Prima Donna", says James, "firstly, you need to acknowledge and recognise the achievements of the mechanics in delivering the best potential car setup that you have requested. Secondly, the mechanics will know whether you truly understand the car or not, and mutual respect and understanding of each other's important roles is necessary for peak performance."

"Anne helps me get over disappointments and so helps me to stay calm with the team. She has also helped me develop self confidence when presenting to conferences, journalists and in other interviews, as this is paramount to the image I portray to sponsors, journalists, my audience and fans!"

Whilst reading this article, you may have noticed some parallels with your own organisations. Perhaps your top sales people see themselves as the talent and the high achievers, but do they communicate well with the rest of the company? Similarly some organisations have extremely talented technical specialists, but these types of people are not always skilled in communicating their vision with non-technical people. With the wrong people skills, 2 plus 2 can only equal 3, whereas with NLP for teams, sometimes 2 plus 2 can produce a 5 or a 6!

The "Winning Formula" is an NLP model designed through observing, interviewing and working with individuals and teams in business and the motor sports industry across many sectors.

• Self-Awareness and self-belief - 'It's all in the mind' - Knowing how you think and how to 're-programme' the words you use, for yourself and others.
• The 5-step process to creating the right state of mind.
• Goal setting and creating the winning instinct - Visualising your goal is only part of the process. Knowing how to 'turn' on the appropriate state of mind and being proactive and reactive is the key to success.
• Self Analysis - Analysing how you do what you do, and the ingredients of success and success strategies.
• Getting what you know "into your muscle" - developing strategies for working the mind and body together so 'the body remembers'.
• Dealing with difficulties, distractions, mistakes etc
• Creating the professional approach and self-discipline. How to present yourself with confidence.
• Practice makes perfect - embedding a structure and routine.
• All combined with a personal and team health awareness and fitness programme.

In 1985, Anne Calleja founded Link Fortune International Limited - dedicated to the strategic development of people and organisations. Anne and her experienced consultants work with Senior Management and their teams in both the public and private sectors enabling them to excel in what they choose to do.

In the commercial environment, Anne has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Her strength is to design individual and organisation programmes, which promote a healthy and productive environment. In this way staff are solution focussed and motivated - absenteeism and sickness are reduced.

Anne is a clinical hypnotherapist, an accredited NLP psychotherapist, and an experienced NLP trainer. With the core values of Respect for the Individual, Integrity, Dedication and Attention to Detail, Anne uses these and other models to unblock limiting beliefs for peak performance and also specialises in dealing with performance anxiety and stress.

Analysis, advice and then action - implementing the solution is evidence of the practical value of Anne's methodology. Working in partnership with the individual and/or organisation she observes and models performance. She then designs a personal coaching programme so that you fine-tune, create your own personal model of excellence to reach your full potential. Linking mind and body - Anne's comprehensive approach gives you a clear vision of how you will succeed and meet challenges with skill and confidence.

"Its all about teamwork", finishes James, "Whilst it may be my name on the car, I wouldn't even be on the grid without the support and motivation of the whole team."

Anne Calleja
Link Fortune
Tel: 01865 339372
Email: info@link-fortune.co.uk  

For more information, please see:

www.link-fortune.co.uk  
to improve corporate team performance
www.pureconsulting.com  
to improve individual performance
www.formulafitness.co.uk  
to create championship motorsport drivers
www.jwalkermotorsport.com  
to find out more about James Walker