The Impact of Chatter on Peak Performance

Let’s talk about Simone Biles. 

In 2016, the gymnast astounded the world by winning four gold and one bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Then in 2019, she went on to dominate the World Championships in Stuttgart. Her exceptional talent left many wondering if she could even fail.

But in 2022, she dropped a bombshell: she would not be competing in the Beijing Winter Olympics. The news came a year after she withdrew from the final at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It left fans around the world shocked — how could the Queen of the Beam suddenly fall out of sync with the sport she had so naturally claimed as hers? According to acclaimed psychologist Ethan Kross, the answer lies in something he calls chatter.

What is Chatter

Chatter is a loop of negative thoughts that keeps distracting you even when you’re trying to focus on something else. We all know that feeling, right? You’re anxious about something, so you try to distract yourself with a book or a movie, but your mind keeps wandering back to the thing that’s bothering you. That is chatter, the voice in your head. 

For years, Simone had been able to execute complex movements without thinking too hard about her next step, thanks to all the practice she had put in. But when she started to focus on negative thoughts like, “Am I fast enough?” or “Did I get enough height?”, her routine broke down. This happens across different athletic fields — and even in our own lives.

How to Harness Chatter, the Voice in Your Head

It’s easy to feel like chatter is never-ending when we’re caught up in it. But Kross suggests a practice that can help us get past chatter. When you feel anxious or distracted, think of the problem either from a second-person perspective or that of your future self. Would it still be as big? Chances are, no. Gaining sight of the bigger picture again can give us just the right amount of hope needed for an antidote. When you’re spattered by negative thoughts, remember that you’re not alone. You, like Simone Biles, can work on turning the critical voice in your head into your greatest coach.

Why is Mastering Chatter Important

Mastering chatter is a crucial aspect of emotional intelligence and a foundation of effective leadership. When our inner monologue is negative, it can amplify stress, fear, and pessimism. By contrast, when it is positive, it can inspire optimism, resilience, and innovation.

At Mentora Institute, we have partnered with the leading psychotherapist Dr. David Burns to build a curriculum that trains people in practical methods to monitor and shift their thoughts and emotions in the flow of work, so they can stay calm and focused and do their life’s best work even in the midst of heightened pressure. Also, in our Master Class on Emotional Mastery, we train our clients not simply in the outer craft of leadership but also the inner mastery of self, in order to show up with poise and presence.