Mental Strength Assessment Profile Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed?
Completing the Mental Strength Assessment helps you better understand the skills you re already using, as well as the areas that can use improvement. Please indicate how often each statement below is true for you or how often is applies to you. There are no trick questions so there is no benefit in trying to make yourself look good or make yourself look more skillful than you are. To get the most from this assessment you MUST be honest. Here s how to complete the MSA. For each statement, indicate (with an X ) on the number and descriptor that corresponds best with how often the statement is true for you. The choices are: Almost Always (true) Often (true) Sometimes (true) Seldom (true) Almost Never (true)
1. I can stay steady when things go badly. 2. I can become stressed or scared in critical situations. 3. I can become distracted and lose my focus when under pressure. 4. Even if stressed before I start, I can calm down during a critical event. 5. Before beginning an important project/task, I can picture myself doing well. 6. I set goals for myself that keep me training hard. 7. I am a positive thinker when engaging in my important project activates. 8. I eat at least three good balanced meals per day. 9. I can lose my confidence very quickly. 10. My body feels good, pumped, and ready to go when on a critical task. 11. My thinking to get foggy during a stressful event.
12. Even if I m not motivated for a task, I can psych myself up. 13. I mentally practice my tactical and leadership skills. 14. I need to be told or pushed to train more. 15. I can become excessively self-critical of myself during a stressful situation. 16. I sleep at least seven hours every night. 17. I am mentally tough in my skill performance and leadership. 18. I get angry or frustrated easily by problems during a stressful event. 19. I find myself thinking of past errors and mistakes during a stressful event. 20. I can keep my emotions positive and in control when in a stressful situation. 21. Picturing myself performing my tactical/important skills is easy for me. 22. At my level of expertise, I know all I need to know.
23. I can change negative moods into positive ones by controlling my thinking. 24. I smoke cigarettes or cigars (or other smokable substances) 25. I fully trust my ability. 26. I wish my body wouldn t go so revved up during a critical event. 27. My concentration is rock solid and hard to shake. 28. I can clear any interfering emotions quickly and refocus on my skills. 29. I mentally rehearse my actions for difficult situations as a way to practice my skills. 30. I get bored, burned out and easily demotivated. 31. My friends, family, superiors and team members would say I have a good attitude. 32. I use fewer than five alcoholic drinks per week. 33. My expectation is to always succeed in my tasks and assignments during a critical event.
34. I worried that I might lose it under pressure. 35. My main focus during a critical event is using my skills for achieving the goal. 36. If I am too juiced or to wired, I can calm myself down. 37. It s hard to get a clear image in my mind of myself performing in a stressful event. 38. Doing my duty/job gives me a strong sense of pride and honor. 39. I worry a lot before or during a critical event. 40. I maximize my nutrition and limit my intake of junk food. 41. I think about making mistakes even before starting an important task. 42. I am bothered by things like my heart pounding, handshaking or butterflies in my stomach during a stressful event. 43. I find myself hoping to do well rather than being confident about doing well in stressful situations. 44. I worry about choking or freezing at critical time.
45. When I mentally rehearse my skills, I can really feel all my senses rather than just seeing myself respond. 46. The greater and more difficult the challenge, the better I like it. 47. It s hard to clear negative thoughts if they enter my mind. 48. I do regular aerobic exercise at least 30 minutes at a time at least three days per week. 49. I worry I will face a situation I cannot handle. 50. If there was a safe and legal substance I could take to keep myself calm during stressful situations, it would really help me. 51. During a critical event, my attention is more on my body s feelings than on my skills. 52. Just thinking about going on or leading an important event makes me nervous. 53. When I mentally rehearse my tasks and skills, I can actually feel the movements. 54. I doubt if I really want to do this type of function/job.
55. Making a mistake distracts me from going on to complete my goal confidently or effectively. 56. I drink more than 3 cups or glasses of caffeinated beverage per day. When you have completed the MSA, score your results in the Mental Strength Profile Score Sheet (below). Notice that there are eight categories on the scoring sheet with numbers below them. These numbers correspond with the statement number you just completed. Transfer the number that indicates the level of agreement with a specific statement and enter it in the space next to the same number on the score sheet.
Mental Strength Profile Scoring Sheet There are 8 categories on the score sheet with numbers in each box. The numbers correspond with the statements you just answered. Transfer the number that indicates your level of agreement with a specific statement and enter it in the space next to the same number below. When you have finished, add up the numbers to get your total score for each category. You know have an adequate mental strength assessment for these specific categories. Confidence Physical Arousal Attention Control Arousal Control Imagery Use Commitment Self- Talk Use Physical Condition 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Total What does your mental strength score mean? And for now, here s a description of the categories: Confidence describes the degree of faith you have in your ability to respond effectively in any situation. Physical Arousal represents how positive your physical and psychological arousal is during an intense situation. Attention Control describes how well you believe you can stay focused during an intense and critical situation. Arousal Control reflects the degree to which you can control the effects of the adrenaline rush so that they do not interfere with you performance during an intense and critical situation. Imagery Use describes the degree to which you can use mental imagery or mental rehearsal to prepare yourself for responding in various aspects of skills and tasks to a critical event.
Commitment refers to your degree of satisfaction and positive involvement with your current occupation and being a leader. Self-Talk relates to a specific psychological performance factor that affects how your thinking influences your performance during a critical and intense event. Physical Condition is a brief measurement of how well you act to optimize your physical condition. SCORING The higher the score, the stronger is your psychological skills in that area. Specifically, scores in the range of: 31-35 (GREEN) are highly positive and suggest that you re in command of those skills and you would be great a helping others improve their mental strength skills as a Mental Strength Coach. 25 to 30 (GOLD) suggest that you passed muster; your skills are maturing and a Mental Strength Coach can help accelerate the process. 15 to 24 (RED, you re ok, but you haven t but haven t gotten a firm grip on any of the skills and improvement is needed, A Mental Strength Coach will definitely help you 14 or less, (WARNING!) indicates your mindset skill needs a lot of work and hiring a Mental Strength Coach is must in these areas. You Need Metal Strength Coaching You re doing well and will benefit from greatly from Mental Strength Coaching. Congratulations! You got your act together, now it s time to help others.