Serena Bradshaw

Katie Lowe

Goddards

Coaching Practice

The soft skills

specialistswww.achieve.uk.com

www.goddardconsultants.com

Mental toughness and transition

1. The concept of Mental Toughness

2. How it’s developed

3. How can you and your pupils benefit, in practice

“A personality trait which determines how we deal with challenge, stressors and pressure ....”

Mental toughness—a definition:

• The measure was first used to in education in 2008 to look at Performance, Behaviour and Career Aspirations. It is now used widely in secondary, further and higher education in the UK and overseas

• Research and development at Hull University

• It’s measured via a questionnaire• Mental Sensitivity is the opposite of Mental

Toughness

Some background to Mental Toughness

Mental toughness scores can predict:

Performance – Mental Toughness measure explains up to 25% of the variation in attainment

Behaviour – more engaged, more positive, more “can do”

Wellbeing – more contentment, better stress management , less bullying

Challenge Do you look forward to change; or Is it a threat?

ControlHow much do you control what happens to you; andHow do you control your emotions?

ConfidenceDo you have confidence in your abilities; andDo you have confidence to handle difficult situations?

CommitmentDo you keep going when the going gets tough; orDo you give up through fear of failure?

Mental toughness has 4 ingredients

.

“I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to”

Mental toughness and current thinking—eg Dweck

Fixed mindset

• Avoid risk• Focus on ability not

effort • Effort is

disagreeable • Failure is attributed

to others (blame)• Avoid mistakes and

setbacks

Growth mindset

• Challenge is good• Learn form

mistakes • Hard work is more

important than ability

• If one person can learn, I can learn

• Only the Growth Mindset delivers sustainable successGrowth Mindset = Mental Toughness

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Next section:

• Do we agree that Mental Toughness is essential for successful transition?

• How can we develop Mental Toughness?

Mental toughness development:

3 step process:

Diagnosis

• Paper or online questionnaire: only 10 minutes

• Scores are reported on a 1 – 10 Sten Scale: – Stens 1, 2 & 3 – “Low” scores – 16% of population

– Stens 8, 9 & 10 – “High” Scores– 16% of population

– Stens 4 – 7 – Typical or normal scores – 68% of population

• MT is normally distributed• This diagnostic is more accurate than tutor assessment alone

Introduce and embed targeted interventions

6 areas of intervention to improve mental toughness

1. Positive thinking – affirmations, self talk etc2. Visualisation – guided imagery, seeing success3. Anxiety Control – relaxation, breathing, etc4. Attentional Control – focus, dealing with

interruptions 5. Goal achievement – SMART, balancing goals,

chunking6. The test itself + feedback – people respond to the

feedback

Confidence• Talent match• Positive thinking• Role models

In practice activities relating to the 4 C’s could include …

Commitment• Positive affirmations• Treasure mapping

Challenge• SMART goals• Planning

Control• Colour stroop• STOP

Summary

Mental Toughness– Control, Commitment, Challenge, Confidence

3 Steps to developing mental toughness– Diagnosis, Embed targeted activities*,

Evaluation

*Activities / intervention– 7 Broad areas of intervention

Purpose of a pilot

Demonstrate:

• The value of Mental Toughness diagnostic in itself

• How teachers can use and embed targeted activities to develop mental toughness

• Apply lessons learned prior to full roll- out in 2013-14

What would a pilot look like in practice?1. Staff presentation / cascade?

2. Pencil and paper assessment or on line

3. Results: feedback with key staff / parents: does this ring true?

4. Agree specific activities / interventions: • Delivered by your staff after training• Resource availability online

5. Evaluation

Next steps

Q&AWho, What, When, Where, How …

Thank you!

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