Goal Setting to Win: A Competition Dance Nightmare!

By National Champion Maren Oslac

Ballroom Dancers Competing

Working with dance competitors over the years I have noticed many contestants set goals that focus on winning.  Not that I’m against winning, or focusing on it, however, the preparation it takes to win anything requires goals set for things under your control.

Dance competitions are determined by a panel of judges and are based on their perception of the contestants.  The judges have the control over who wins, the contestant is not in control.

Setting a goal for something someone else controls is scary and not productive.  No matter how well you perform on competition day, the judges may find someone else they like better, and first place will go to another – your dream completely unrealized.

How does focusing on the ‘win’ hurt your chances of actually winning?  And take away from the end result?

Obviously, the desire to win must be present, you should prepare to win, you should focus on doing whatever it takes – but setting your goal to win adds pressure that is likely to pull your focus and ruin your concentration on competition day.

Goal setting on ‘winning’ puts your thoughts on competition day squarely on the title, winning, how important the end result is to you, etc.  Which makes you focused on the outcome, something totally out of your hands.

This adds pressure and leads to over-trying – the enemy of champion dancers.  ‘Over-try’ hurts your ability to perform at your best so you are much less likely to reach your goal to win.

So what should you do?  For what should you goal set if not to win?

Goal set for something you can control!

• You can control what you think about on competition day.
• You can control your individual performance in each phase of competition.
• You can control your response to your environment.

Since focus on winning the day of competition is harmful, your goal should be on something that actually keeps you from focusing on winning.  Focus on process, not outcome to have the best result.

Benefits of Competing in Dance: Ballroom, Latin, Swing or Salsa

Competition dance is really a means to an end – it’s about self improvement.  Everything you do to prepare to compete will help later on in life.

• In order to distinguish yourself from the hundreds of other dancers, you have to know yourself and be able to give the judges reasons to remember you.
• In order to have stamina and good technique, you have to train hard, be healthy and eat right.
• In order to show well on the floor you have to train with coaches, perform for others and be able to spread emotion through performance.
• In competition dancewear, you learn how to be poised, graceful and elegant.
• Dancing amongst others forces you to think on your feet, make adjustments without hesitation and show personality.

All of these things help you to become a better YOU give you an edge in other things you pursue in your life.

Focus on learning from the competitive experience so that you can grow into the person you want to become.  When you win it will be an added bonus on top of all the aspects you’ve developed within.