If you believe it you will win
How the belief that you can succeed helps you sell more. Vincenzo Russo explains with neuroscience how a positive attitude increases the chances of success
If you believe it you will win-self-confidence-key of success
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
It has been known for some time in sport as well as in work. If you believe it, you will win.
Who hasn’t seen the coaches talking to the players in the locker room before the match and convincing them that victory is within their reach?
Who hasn’t envied the self-confident colleague who manages to get more results than those who are better than him?
For this, awareness of one’s skills and talent are very important. <<Neuroscience has shown that thinking of being able to do it creates neural connections that produce a synergy of thought by formulating ideas or proposals>> Vincenzo Russo explained to Trebicchieri Economic weekly by Gambero Rosso. << Thinking instead of not succeeding, reduces the thinking activity and enlarges the perception of the problem by pushing the subjects to look for good reasons to give up>>.
THE SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. IF YOU WANT TO WIN, YOU MUST BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT
It is not a question of self-suggestion but rather the positive attitude that enables the brain to express itself at its best by finding solutions and connections that, in the end, increase the results. But the amazing thing is that the effect does not manifest itself only on oneself but also on others. Around 1960, two social psychologists – Jacobson and Rosenthal – made some teachers believe that they had to take care of a group of children, unknown to them, with above average intelligence. After a few months those children, who were actually very normal, had become half phenomena because the teachers << showed more attention to these students, stimulated them with more demanding tasks, provided more frequent and positive feedback >> so it wasn’t the children who improved spontaneously but the << expectations of the teachers determined a change in their own behaviours, influencing the real performances of the students >>.
IF YOU WANT YOUR COLLABORATORS TO GROW TREAT THEM AS IF THEY HAVE ALREADY CHANGED
Even earlier the German writer and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had written << Treat people as if they were what they would like to be and you will help them to become what they can be >>.
The same thing happens in working life, in social life, in sport … but above all in commerce. << Autosuggestion and self-fulfilling prophecy to sell more >> the confident and convincing attitude, the smiling and confident attitude shortens the distance from ultimate success. Those who are not sure of the product they sell, are afraid of competitors, constantly think about previous occasions when things have gone wrong, with difficulty will give the best of themselves.
For managers it is important to motivate, encourage their employees, increasing the confidence in their abilities that leads them to overcome really difficult obstacles. The positive charge is the key to success and, to paraphrase Julio Velasco, legendary sports coach, << A mistake is not a sign of inability but is part of the learning process >>.