High-performing athletes often chase perfection. They work hard, grind, and push themselves to be the best. They obsess with trying to control the results and achieve perfection.
Their drive is a huge asset when it comes to training, but it can become a roadblock when it’s time to perform.
This chase for perfection leads athletes into what I call Scientist Mode—all about being analytical, judgemental, and controlling. This mode can cause many athletes to struggle with overthinking and self-doubt when game time arrives.
The Two Modes: Scientist vs Performer
Scientist Mode is needed to develop elite capabilities. This can also be referred to as deliberate practice.
Think of an athlete working on a drill—breaking things down, analyzing movements, and striving for mastery. This mindset thrives on control, precision, and constant improvement. It’s how athletes refine their skills and push their limits.
The problem? Some athletes struggle to turn off Scientist Mode when it’s time to perform. Instead of trusting their training, they stay in analysis mode—overthinking every move, second-guessing themselves, and struggling to flow with confidence.
Performance Mode is a completely different state of mind. It’s about trusting your skills, letting go of judgment, and playing freely. In Performance Mode, you’re not micromanaging every detail—you’re immersed in the moment, reacting instinctively, and expressing your ability without hesitation.
The Taylor Swift Analogy
Imagine Taylor Swift writing and developing a new song. She breaks down each piece. Chunking her way through it. Slowing down, restarting, and adjusting. She looks at the guitar and works on what notes feel best, the timing, and the tempo. She analyzes every movement—that’s Scientist Mode. But when she steps on stage, she can’t keep staring at the strings. She has to let go, trust her practice, and just play. That’s Performance Mode.
Many athletes, however, struggle to make this shift. They carry the perfectionist mindset into competition, trying to control every aspect of their performance instead of allowing their training to take over. This leads to tension, self-doubt, and inconsistency.
How to Shift into Performance Mode
Here are 3 practical strategies to help you better shift into Performance Mode:
- Be Intentional with the 2 Modes
The goal here is not to always be in Performance Mode. So don’t judge yourself for being or getting into Scientist Mode — without it you probably would not have the skills and capability that you currently have. You will want to tap back into Scientist Mode after practices and performances, as it is a great time to reflect, learn, and grow.Alternatively, know when it’s time to flip the switch and be in Performance Mode. This is not just limited to game day and competitions. Taylor Swift isn’t in Scientist Mode the day before a concert. She is rehearsing in Performance Mode — this might not look and feel the exact same as the live concert but it’s closer to that then not.
I’ve found this true for many of my elite and pro athletes. If the day before a game they are in Scientist Mode in practice, they often have a harder time flipping the switch the next game. Bottom line – you need to find what works for you.
- Build Your Game Day Routines & Identity
One of fundamental exercises we use with clients is build out their Alter Ego. This is like building out your Performance Mode Identity to make sure you don’t play the game in Scientist Mode. You can create a cool Black Mamba name – like my mentor, Todd Herman, did with Kobe. Or you can keep it a little more basic. Either way it should be personalized to you.Once you have more clarity on your identity, you can set up your game day routines to build up and activate your Alter Ego (Performance Mode). These details can include what you are including in your imagery script, how you dress and show up to the arena, and how you warm-up and interact with teammates before the game.
- Flip the Switch with a Reset Routine
No one is perfect — so don’t fall for the trap of chasing the perfect mental game. Instead, prepare to flip the switch fully when the game starts and be ready to reset during. The more you plan to cope with the pressures, adversities, and distractions inherent in your sport, the more you will stay adaptable and respond effectively to them. Taylor Swift doesn’t go on stage and give a ‘perfect’ performance, she stays present, adaptable, and goes with the flow.Developing a Reset Routine is key to giving you a process to look within, let go of noise, and set your intention moving forward. This is how you flip the switch. For our clients, this process becomes part of their daily routines. But you have to stay intentional with how you use it — you need to plan to cope — the more you prepare for what might throw you off, then the more likely you will stay dialed in.
Scientist vs Performer in Action
Don’t take my word for it. Check out the video below of professional Pickle Ball player Hannah Blatt talking about our work together and the benefits of using the Scientist Mode vs Performance Mode mindset:
Final Thoughts
The best athletes master the ability to switch between Scientist Mode and Performance Mode at the right time. They use the drive for mastery in Scientist Mode to develop elite capabilities but know when to release control and compete with confidence.
By learning to shift modes, athletes can avoid overthinking, play more freely, and perform when it matters most.
I hope you found this helpful — please share this with anyone you think could benefit.
And if you are interested in getting one of our Mental Performance Coaches to help you shift modes – just click the button below to get started.
Nicholas is a Senior High-Performance Coach and holds a doctorate in Sport & Exercise Psychology. From his specialized psychology research program, to his PhD studies, Nicholas has gained a tremendous foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the human experience. His passion for psychology has accumulated to a commitment to studying and applying performance psychology and stoicism. This commitment has led Nicholas to conduct many research studies focusing on understanding why and how some people thrive and prosper while others do not. His admiration for evidence-based solutions has propelled Nicholas to produce studies revolving around mindfulness, grit (perseverance and passion), performance, quality participation, social relationships, and well-being.
A Native of Quebec, Sara was part of the St. Lawrence University Women’s Ice Hockey team that competed in the NCAA Division 1 hockey league ECAC. During this time, Sara helped her team appear in four ECAC Hockey Tournaments and two NCAA Frozen Fours, and was a four-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad. Following her career at St. Lawrence University, Sara played one year of professional hockey with Lugano, where she truly honed her skills in understanding the intricate connection between mindset and performance.
Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
Natasha Habert draws from her training in sport and performance psychology, personal experiences as a competitive athlete, and deep passion for consistent high performance. She is a lifelong athlete and high performer, excelling in volleyball as both a player and coach.
Luciano’s hockey career is highlighted by his time playing college at the University of Victoria and two professional seasons in Europe. Throughout his career, he struggled with performance anxiety, a lack of consistency, fluctuations in confidence, and being caught in the results trap. This eventually led him to deviate from the main reason why anyone should play sports – for the enjoyment of the game. As a former athlete, Luciano has a unique understanding of the psychological pressures and struggles that athletes experience.
Alexis Woloschuk is a name synonymous with mental fortitude in the world of professional hockey. Throughout her career originating playing boys hockey, going to an academy away from home, playing her four years at Boston University and 7+ years in pro hockey she’s learned the importance of resilience, confidence, and dismissing both fear and other’s opinions. With a blend of relatability, confidence, and an acute understanding of playing to one’s potential, Alexis helps athletes reshape the way they perceive and harness the power of their minds.
Sean Mahoney is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a Master’s candidate in the Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. For as long as he can remember, Sean has been fascinated by human performance and how to gain an edge over the competition. For most of his athletic career, he focused on the physical aspect of performance but neglected the mental. Because of this, he struggled with performance anxiety, focus issues, and limiting beliefs pertaining to confidence and self-doubt. His lack of focus on optimizing his mental game prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Savannah Fitzgerald is earning her M.A. in Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Option at California State University, Fresno. Possessing an internal motor that fires her rage for success, Savannah forged this attribute over five years while competing as an NCAA D-I water polo player and swimmer. Combined with her opportunity to represent and compete for the United States, she feels that sport has significantly impacted her professional development. Due to her personal experience playing at all levels, Savannah’s passion for mental performance began when she struggled to overcome pre-competition nerves and post-competition processing. When she discovered a world out there that people were referring to as ‘sport psychology,’ she felt like a piece of her brain was unlocked. Reality shifted as she stumbled into a space consisting of the most beautiful blend of elite performance, mental well-being, and athletics.
Gabe is currently completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. Although Gabe played several years of high-level baseball, including a stint in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL), he chose hockey as his sport to pursue at the highest level possible. Gabe went on to play four years of junior hockey with the Richmond Sockeyes in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) while also coaching minor hockey. Prior to junior hockey, Gabe played 3 years in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) where he experienced the pressures and expectations of moving on to the next level. During those three years, Gabe constantly compared himself to others and struggled with coping when things did not go his way. Over time, he learned how to focus on his own process and path to the next level, while also developing strategies to improve well-being.
Louie is a mental performance coach from Toronto, Canada with a professional hockey career spanning over 14 years. Being a standout player at the University of Michigan, Louie was a Hobey Baker finalist and a 1st team All-American, which led him to getting drafted by the Ottawa Senators and playing in renowned leagues across the globe, including the DEL, SHL, and AHL.
Mia Landry is a former varsity hockey player at Brock University, where she competed at the USPORT level and was part of the 2021-22 OUA gold medal team. Mia currently represents Canada on the Women’s National Ball Hockey team and is pursuing a Master of Kinesiology Sport Psychology at her alma mater. Her research focuses on areas such as team cohesion, group dynamics, leadership styles, and sports culture.
As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Max is currently attending William James College, where he is earning a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters Degree in Professional Psychology. During his time as an undergraduate student, Max was inducted into the International Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), and played on the Quinnipiac University men’s club ice hockey team.
