Blog Post

Chatter, chatter, chatter!

Ollie Smedley • Apr 26, 2019

How do you manage your inner voice?

I’m curious - is there ever a time that negative, inner voice is helpful?

On a bad day I’m my own worst critic as “should’ve / could’ve / would’ve’s” creep in, soon followed by a metaphorical bash on the head, or a gentle poke in the ribs.

And as I overthink a past misdemeanour or missed opportunity, it doesn’t help me concentrate on the now, let alone the future.

Whether working on my coaching business or simply playing golf – I confess, it’s usually lurking somewhere, ready to critique a bad drive or a missed putt.

Tim Galwey , an early influencer of coaching, wrote in The Inner Game of Golf about Self 1 and Self 2; Where Self 2 is the total person living the life and Self 1 is our own worst critic or know-all expert, ready to second guess us and undermine our confidence and concentration.

He explained that by allowing Self 2 to learn and thrive, whilst minimising the interference from Self 1, performance improved.

So when I’m playing my best golf, the bad shots don't worry me; I shrug them off and head to the next tee with a spring in my step thinking about all the potential opportunity and joy of the next hole. After all, playing even bad golf is a gift not a chore!

I’d love to know how you help manage your inner chatter.

Ollie helps finance leaders and teams create the space, thinking and leadership they need to thrive. Previously an FD and MD in a range of complex, blue chip organisations he’s now an ICF accredited coach. Try his free “What Matters in Finance” exercise if you’re curious about what really matters to you.

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