Are you going to watch the Women’s World Cup Soccer semi final between Australia and England tonight? No doubt millions of Australians will be. The Matildas’ have been smashing viewership records with ratings agency OzTAM reporting that a whopping 4.17 million Aussies tuned in to Seven’s heart-stopping broadcast while 472,000 caught the game on the 7Plus app — making it the highest-rating TV sports program in the past decade as well as the biggest streaming event in Australia ever.
Will England or Australia win? The Matildas will have the home ground advantage but The Lionesses have out passed and outscored us during this world cup. With all this hope and focus on The Matilda’s winning, we felt inspired to take a look at the science of winning and how we can all channel these traits in order to achieve more.
Traits and attributes of winners
Success is almost always an accumulation of many factors and attributes. Research into successful individuals and winning teams has highlighted which features they share. These include:
- Resilience and adaptability. Resilient individuals and teams have the ability to bounce back from setbacks, failures, and challenges. This trait helps them maintain motivation and persistence even in the face of adversity. While adaptable teams and individuals can quickly adjust their strategies and approaches based on new information tend to perform well in dynamic situations.
- Grit and discipline. Grit refers to a combination of passion and perseverance towards long-term goals. Individuals with high levels of grit and self-discipline are more likely to stay committed to their objectives and see them through despite the difficulties and sacrifices required. As Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, puts it, “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”
- Teamwork and collaboration. Effective teamwork requires individuals to communicate, cooperate, and leverage each other’s strengths. Foster a culture of collaboration and you will achieve better results.
- Positive mindset. A positive mindset helps with motivation and managing stress. People with positive mindsets are better at handling challenges and setbacks.
- Continuous learning. A commitment to ongoing learning and improvement contributes to success. Seek opportunities to acquire new skills and continue learning.
Intrinsic motivation
Winning is great but no one is going to win all the time. People who are more resilient to loses and setbacks tend to have strong intrinsic motivators. This is because intrinsic motivation drives individuals to engage in activities for the enjoyment, personal satisfaction, or an inherent interest which creates genuine fulfilment. Whereas extrinsic motivation means that you are motivated to participate in an activity based on garnering praise and approval, winning, or receiving an award or payment. We are all extrinsically motivated to a degree but people who are not entirely extrinsically motivated tend to be more happy and successful individuals.