In the high-stakes worlds of elite military units such as US Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, US Green Berets and DELTA along with many more comparative to competitive sports like tennis, motocross, supercross, baseball, football and more, the pursuit of excellence often comes with a heavy price tag. While the drive for peak performance is undeniable, the methods used to achieve it can sometimes border on the extreme. Today, we delve into the pitfalls of coaching tactics that focus on “mental toughness”—specifically, the damaging effects of screaming and cursing as a means to motivate individuals to perform better.
The US Army Special Operations: Balancing Toughness with Compassion
In the crucible of combat, soldiers of the US Army Special Operations are subjected to the most rigorous mental training regimens imaginable. However, amidst the relentless push for mental resilience, there exists a delicate balance between toughness and strategy. While soldiers are expected to endure hardship and adversity, the use of abusive language and aggressive behavior as motivational tools is strictly cautioned against. Why is that? In all the movies soldiers get screamed at regularly….. Well real life is not a movie and the time and place of these strategies to toughen a young soldier, marine or so are highly strategized. The “basic training” phase is a temporary period designed to mentally position a person to complete submission to a series of educational instruction while mixed with adversities. This period although harsh is very calculated to position a start of a career and then move forward and build on an open mentally tough platform. Although many think is simply where a SOF soldier stays. Imagine doing that for 10, 15 or 20 years. The psychological damage would break down even the toughest of people.
Sports: The Thin Line Between Tough Love and Mental Abuse
In the world of sports, the line between tough love and mental abuse can often blur. Coaches and trainers, driven by the desire for victory, may resort to screaming and cursing as a means to spur athletes to greater heights. However, the unintended consequences of such tactics can be devastating when there is no plan, no tactic and no strategy to build on that in a portioned time period. Instead of motivating athletes, this aggressive behavior can lead to decreased confidence, heightened anxiety, and even long-term psychological trauma. Often overlooked is taking into account the maturity of the athlete as well. Imagine explaining investing to an 8 year old and expecting them to fully grasp the concept with no experience to compare it to. Or explaining to a young Jiu Jitsu 9 year old that they must fight harder by simply screaming at them only to have a calm and systematically taught 9 year come in and dominate the fight through learned strategy instead of emotional chaos.
The Cost of Harsh Coaching: A Human Toll
“I don’t get yelling and screaming at players,” said retired veteran NFL coach Sherman Smith. “What’s the goal? Are you trying to improve them, or just trying to let ‘em know how mad you are?” According to Smith, he never yelled at any of the Seattle Seahawk, Houston Oiler, Tennessee Titan, or Washington Redskin players he coached.
The notion that screaming and cursing will somehow make individuals perform better is not only misguided but also harmful. The psychological toll of such tactics can erode trust, diminish self-esteem, and ultimately undermine performance. Rather than fostering resilience, this approach breeds resentment and fear—hardly the foundation for sustainable success. Or ignites high emotion which more often than not leads to mistakes with big consequences at the worst of times. If you ever met a Green Beret or SEAL team member you probably left the initial meeting thinking…wow that person is so calm. That is not to say the baseline foundations that warrior has built on do not have the capacity for absolute violence. But same as a racer in supercross at the highest of levels. The calm mentality is crucial to managing your decision making abilities when additional stress of competing, for money, for titles and everything is on the line.
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As leaders, coaches, and mentors, it is our duty to recognize the humanity of those under our care. While the pursuit of excellence is commendable, it should never come at the expense of basic human dignity. Constructive feedback, positive reinforcement, baseline understanding of cognitive development and a supportive environment are far more effective tools for fostering growth and development than fear and intimidation.
In conclusion, the use of screaming and cursing as motivational tools is not only ineffective but also ethically questionable. By embracing a more systematic and respectful approach to mental training, we can empower individuals to reach their fullest potential without sacrificing their well-being in the process.
Remember, calm is contagious….so is stress and anxiety.
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