Are you in shred mode?

Both of my sons – Nathaniel and Aaron – are surfers. A number of years ago, I observed a strange ritual. Before they and their friends would head out for a session, the whole gang would sit in front of the TV and watch a surf DVD.

The sun would be shining. They’d be in their board shorts, shirtless, and staring at the screen.

“Why don’t you just go out?” I asked, “What are you doing watching DVDs when you could be out surfing?”

“We’re getting into ‘shred mode’, Dad.” Aaron explained without taking his eyes from the TV.

So, what’s shred mode?
When surfers are performing at their peak, they’re said to be “shredding”. Cutting through the water, turning and twisting the fins of their board, releasing parabolic sprays of white water in their wake. In short, shredding it.

So, before they hit the water, the kids perform their little DVD ritual to get into shred mode.

There’s science behind this DVD ritual.
It’s based on potent body/mind principle called State Dependent Learning. SDL says that everything you’ve learned – whether surfing or spelling – is encoded into your neurology. And that you can best recall any learning when in you’re in the same state of mind as when you learned it.

In other words, when Aaron is surfing his best – he’s in shred mode.
And, by triggering the mental state of “shred mode” before he hits the water – the odds of having an amazing surf session are markedly increased.

When his mind/body is in shred mode – his performance improves. And he has a lot more fun, at the same time.

Are you taking the time to get yourself into shred mode?
What are the rituals that you use to put your mind/.body into a place of optimum performance?
Because, you are performing rituals – whether you’re aware of them or not. We all are.

Rituals are those simple, regular, routines that you repeat day-after-day.
They’re simple – but powerful. These routines condition you mind/body (again, whether you’re aware of it or not.) Each ritual puts you into a specific state of mind – and that state gives you access to specific learnings and skills. Your state of consciousness frames your level of performance.

Shred mode states provide access to shredding levels of performance.
Creative states provide access to creative levels of performance.
Agitated states of mind provide access to agitated levels of performance.
Disengaged states of mind . . . well, you get the idea.

What are your rituals?
What’s the first thing you do when you get to your desk or place of work? What is the state that puts you in?
How about before going to your regular team meeting? What do you do to put yourself in a state of optimum performance?
Or do you practice the all-too-common ritual of sighing with discouragement as you drag yourself slowly into the conference room?

If you want to raise the level of your performance start by designing simple rituals that put you into a high performance state of mind. It’s how your mind/body is wired.
And watch out, as you start shredding through your day!

Questions for reflection and action:

How do you get into shred mode?
How can you build that “ritual” into your daily routine?
What are simple team rituals that you can use to raise the state of your team?
What state do you want to be in for your next meeting? How can you trigger that state – before the meeting starts?