|
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985 & 2000), as with many theories applied to sport, came from the study of education. It is a theory of motivation that tells us that, in order to feel intrinsically motivated – driven by factors inherently meaningful to them, unaffected by external factors, opinions, or expectations – a person needs to have fulfilled three important psychological needs. They are the ABCs of intrinsic motivation: Autonomy, Belonging, and Competence. I’m going to introduce them in reverse order. Competence: “I have the skills to succeed in this space.” Coaches and parents, workplace trainers and teachers, tend to focus heavily on teaching the skills required to perform a task. That skillset, whatever it is, is the foundation of competence. Often, we focus on physical and technical skills because they’re the most visible and easiest to understand. For most of us, it is more intuitive and easier to teach this relatively linear process: If there is a skill that someone needs that they don’t possess, I can show them how to do it and they can then learn and eventually master it through practice. We understand this type of skill acquisition; this understanding is a big factor in our obsession with “talent,” in sports and other arenas. We can see competence, and its pursuit is what that forms the basis of most recruiting, analysis, NIL and other sponsorship, and absurdly large contracts in sports. And, competence is unquestionably a good thing; if I know that I possess the skills to get something done, my confidence and motivation to do it are higher and I am more likely to say yes to the task. Competent people are generally more sure of themselves and more successful, willing to try new things and work to master them, and the experience of the resulting success often leads to higher levels of motivation. Belonging: “There is a place for me here; I am valued for who I am.” Something we talk a lot about, but don’t always know how to properly create, is a sense of belonging. In sport, we often mistake inviting someone into OUR thing to do it our way for inclusion. In fact, it’s totally ok – necessary – to have norms, to have a culture, to have guidelines for whatever space you’ve created; a free-for-all, where everyone just does whatever they want, also fails to create a secure space where those who wish to enter can do so as themselves, knowing that they will be free from ridicule – which is a big part of the ultimate goal. According to SDT, belongingness is knowing that one can show up as themselves and be accepted; creating this sense of community means meeting people where they are – emotionally, cognitively, developmentally, socially, and personally – and accepting them for who they are, then helping them find their place within a space of shared purpose and/or identity. Through this process, you create relatability and help them feel heard, seen, understood, and valued. When a person feels like they belong, like “these are my people,” they are much more willing to exert or stretch themselves in service of whatever our shared purpose might be. Their level of motivation is much higher, and they are more willing to accept and embrace their role – even if it’s not their ideal – for the good of the team. Autonomy: “I have voice and choice.” This is where, in just about everything involving kids, we come up agonizingly short. In our culture of fear and distrust and in an effort to make sure that kids encounter no danger or obstacles to their success, we are wildly overzealous in controlling every minute of a child’s existence. From overscheduling to grade inflation, non-stop surveillance to authoritarian coaching and parenting, we have decided as a culture that the worst thing a child could experience is failure, that freedom is too dangerous because the world contains little more than a series of threats… Click the button below to learn more about how to apply the ABCs of self-determination.
|
