Ninety percent has to come from yourself, your inner-energy, motivation to get the most out of yourself. 'Tis the season for NFL coaching changes, but it might be wise for team owners and executives to consider these words from former Dutch football (soccer) star and manager Frank de Boer. As much as we're enamored with the changes that a new coach might bring about, team success ultimately comes down to the drive and performance of the players.

This week, I spoke to counselors from schools in the Pacific-Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. While my focus was on managing stress and building resilience, I introduced the idea of considering mental health in terms of mental fitness. As I've written previously, the term mental health has grown both in use and misunderstanding. Thinking of mental fitness on a spectrum that is analogous to physical fitness helps move us past the traditional deficit or treatment model that seeks to "fix" people and tops out at the absence of disease (aka "normal"). Instead, mental fitness allows for the exploration of optimal performance, where people don't just survive, they thrive. In essence, it's looking to take performers from the (mental) physique of a weekend warrior to that of world-class professional athlete.

It's hard not to be impressed by Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap. Having won both the US Junior Amateur and US Amateur championships, he had already accomplished something that only Tiger Woods had done. This past weekend, he became the first amateur since Phil Mickelson to win a PGA Tour event (1991). Simply put, Dunlap has game, on the course and in the mind.  

Dunlap grew up playing as a member at sport psychologist Bhrett McCabe's golf club. As a result, we have some unique insights into his mental game. McCabe relays that Dunlap was the "stray dog at the clubhouse. You couldn't get rid of him." He was always looking to compete, with a focus on the joy of competition. He loved to practice, no matter the weather or time of day, and he loved to learn from older players.  At last year's US Amateur, he began the tournament by playing a wrong ball on his 3rd hole, four-putting his 5th hole and being 5 over through seven holes, before righting the ship. He showed similar resilience on Sunday, when he bounced back from a double bogey on the seventh hole.

In his post-round interview, Dunlap shared three keys to his success. First, he embraced his emotions. Rather than pretend that he wasn't nervous, he acknowledge his nerves and looked at the tournament as an opportunity to learn. Second, he managed his breathing and slowed everything down to ensure that his tempo wasn't affected by the enormity of the moment. Finally, he managed his expectations. Recognizing that he was going to hit some good shots and some bad shots, he focused on the controllables and giving his best effort.

The rest of the world is now seeing what his Alabama teammates have long known. Nick Dunlap has the physical and mental tools to be among the best in the world. His toughest decision now is when he will turn pro. I expect that he'll apply the same maturity and level-headed approach that he showed last week at the American Express Championship.

When it comes to coaching and leading, directing critical comments towards actions, instead of people, is a crucial approach to promoting relationships and improvement. I'm borrowing this idea from Doug Lemov, who provides the following progression in the quality of feedback:

By positively framing the feedback, you shift the feeling that is conveyed while reinforcing the relationship. To further enhance the communication of criticism, consider the following ideas: 

Lemov notes that these comments help performers relish challenge while encouraging them to perform without the fear of making mistakes.

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