Deficit vs. Strength-Based Models: What's the Best Approach for Athletes?
Edition 18
Hey!
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this lately… (And quite frankly, every athlete who wants to reach their potential should be thinking about this all of the time).
What’s the one thing you can improve to 10x your impact?
Now, I shared this question with someone who helped me a lot over my athletic career, my Dad.
I gave him an example of a player we both knew… This basketball player is tall, can attack the rim well, but can’t shoot effectively outside of 10 feet.
I said for him, his one thing would be to develop a 3-point shot.
Now, my Dad didn’t agree or disagree. But, he did say that what I said was a deficit-based model.
It got me thinking…
When should athletes be focusing on their deficits vs. strengths?
And before we get started, I think it’s important to note that for many athletes, their “one thing” would be something simple, like, to meditate or to sleep. Too many athletes have 95% of the puzzle complete but don’t get adequate sleep or don’t have a clear mind.
So, what’s the difference between a strength-based model and a deficit-based model?
Deficit-based model = Focusing on what is broken
Strength-based model = Focusing on what is working
Now, it’s hard to know what exactly that “one thing” is, if you’re not watching film, self-aware, and always looking for feedback from coaches.
The paradox of improvement: Focusing on improvement is what will make you improve. But, if you get too caught up on your deficit side (the things you aren’t as strong at) then you can start to lack confidence.
Too many players are good. But they get too focused on their deficits and improving those to be well-rounded that they forget to focus on their strengths and they start to lack confidence. And a lack of confidence will always hold you back from reaching the level of greatness.
Here’s the funny thing: You start out with no skills. You have to improve to get skills. You work to improve. Some skills will be better than others for you. Let’s say you’re good. Better than most your age, but not where you want to be.
You HAD to focus on improving your weaknesses to get there. But, if you get too caught up in those weaknesses, you’ll forget about your strengths and those are what make you special as a player.
To answer the question from before: When should athletes be focusing on their deficits vs. strengths?
It’s important to balance improving your deficits while also improving your strengths. But, prioritize improving the deficits that will improve your strengths at a crazy rate.
Example 1: Basketball - Forward.
If the basketball player in the above example improved his 3-point shot enough to the point that defenders have to guard him… Then it will not necessarily approve his ability to drive, but it will better his positioning out on the court. It will give him more opportunities to drive. It will put him in a better position to succeed with his main strength (of driving).
Example 2: Soccer - Center Back:
A center back who lacks speed may focus on improving their positional awareness and tactical understanding of the game to enhance their ability to read and anticipate the opponent's movements. By doing so, they can better position themselves to defend and intercept passes, which can make up for their lack of speed and improve their overall defensive abilities.
Example 3: Tennis - Serve and Volley Player:
A serve and volley player who struggles with their serve may focus on improving their serving technique to enhance their ability to hold serve and put more pressure on their opponent's service games. By improving their serve, they can also set themselves up for more opportunities to come to the net and use their strengths as a volleyer to win points.
Now, if you focus too much on your deficits, without reminding yourself why you’re doing this (to exponentially improve your strengths)... You’ll lack the confidence to play at your highest level.
Use a combination of self-reflection and feedback from coaches and teammates, to determine whether to focus on what's broken or what's working. Here are your next steps to take:
Conduct a self-assessment: Athletes can assess their strengths and weaknesses by reflecting on their performance and analyzing their game footage. They can identify the areas where they excel and the areas that need improvement.
Seek feedback from coaches and teammates: Coaches and teammates can offer valuable feedback on an athlete's strengths and weaknesses. They can provide insights into areas where the athlete needs to improve and areas where they excel.
Consider the impact of deficits on strengths: Athletes can assess whether their deficits are holding them back from achieving their full potential. They can determine whether improving their deficits can have a significant impact on their strengths.
Your Exercise:
In whatever sport you want to do this in… Get two pieces of paper. Label one strengths, label one weaknesses.
Then write down everything you can on both. Ask your coaches to do the same. Then compare the lists. Then consider the impact of deficits on strengths.
Now, ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I can improve to 10x my impact?
Note: Weaknesses is a word I don’t like to use. Here’s its translation: Opportunities for growth.
Summary: Striking a balance between focusing on deficits and strengths is crucial. Overemphasizing deficits can lead to a lack of confidence and hinder performance, while ignoring weaknesses can limit your potential. It's important to prioritize areas that will have the most significant impact on performance, while celebrating and building on existing strengths is also essential.
If any of this resonated, hit that reply button!
Hope it helps :)
Dylan
PS: Send this to an athlete that’d benefit!