Outer and inner game

[gpt5 Just a quick point 👇.

What is inner game/outer game?

• Inner game: part of facing disturbances in the mind (distraction, anxiety, self-denial, forcefulness, etc.) and recovering learning, concentration, and enjoyment.
• Outer game: the part of the game where you fight against external opponents, challenges, and environments (techniques, tactics, results, etc.).
• The tennis classic The Inner Game of Tennis was first systematized (1974). (Mentoring Group, The Systems Thinker https:// thesystemsthinker.com/the-inner-game-of-work-building-capability-in-the-workplace/)

core model

• Self 1 / Self 2：
  • Self 1 = The "speaking self" (manifest consciousness) that commands and evaluates.
  • Self 2 = Actual "do-it-yourself" (body and automatic learning). The trick is to reduce interference from Self 1 and trust Self 2 to perform. (Mentoring Group)
• Formula: Performance = Potential - Interference
• Outcome = Potential - Interference
  • The less interference (self-criticism, over-tension, over-direction), the better the results. (The Systems Thinker)

Typical skills (inner side)

1. non-judgmental awareness
   • Observe the "facts as they are happening now" without judging by good or bad. Because judgments stiffen the body's flow and hinder learning. (Mentoring Group, [Farnam Street https://fs.blog/inner -game-of-tennis/])
2. self-direction through images rather than words
   • Communicate to Self 2 with images and senses such as "let the trajectory pass here" rather than "hit it like this". (Mentoring Group)
3. let it happen (let it happen) x focus (relaxed focus)
   • A cycle of clear intent -> delegation -> observation, rather than "force to do." (Mentoring Group)

Application to work/study (very practical)

• 30-second routine
  1. define the objectives in one line (external: results / internal: learning/enrichment).
  2. check where your attention is now (where you look/what you feel).
  3. replace the evaluation word with an observation word ("poor performance → racket surface is lagging behind").
  4. image of the desired result → delegate → observe the result without evaluation. This idea has been extended from sports to the workplace, explaining that reducing interference enhances performance and learning simultaneously. (The Systems Thinker)

Points that are often misunderstood

• I'm not talking about increasing positive thinking: less evaluation (good/bad) and more factual observation. (Farnam Street)
• Not a substitute for technical practice: outer (skills) and inner (mental handling) are two wheels. (Mentoring Group)

In depth: The original book, "The Inner Game of Tennis," details the relationship between Self1/2 and the skill set of dealing with inner disturbances. For business applications, Gallwey's own discussion ("The Inner Game of Work") summarizes the key points. (Mentoring Group, The Systems Thinker https:// thesystemsthinker.com/the-inner-game-of-work-building-capability-in-the-workplace/)

Outer game and inner game The Inner Game of Tennis The Inner Game of Work

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