Motivational speaker discusses performing under pressure

The expression on her face was morphing from mortal fear to utter disbelief as the young blonde stood before a crowd in the center of Laska Gymnasium.  Katie had been involuntarily pulled from the audience and informed, over a microphone, that she would need to overcome any inhibitions and loudly sing the National Anthem for us all. Despite the apparent empathy felt by the crowd, the speaker, Spencer Wood, was even able to get us all to clap and shout out a thunderous countdown for the victim. 

Comments on mob mentality aside, I clapped along, but felt horrified for the girl.  At the echo of the last clap, Wood interjected a cancellation of the activity and stated, "Am I that mean? I'm not that mean."  He went on to utilize the example of Katie as a transition into a conversation about a body's natural reaction to fear.

Spencer Wood, professional psychologist and motivational speaker, visited Assumption College Sunday, November 13 to discuss his topic: "Mental Toughness and Performing Under Pressure." Wood shared with the audience that he previously was a professional basketball player in Europe, until an injury ended his run. 

Seizing the opportunity for a teaching moment, he added that working hard in academics was pivotal to his success in life, despite his career ending tragedy. Since his collegiate record and discipline were already so strong at the time of the injury, Wood was able to change career paths by maintaining a Master's Degree in exercise science, as well as a Ph.D in motivational psychology. In addition, Wood has become an accomplished motivation speaker and has spoken at Peru's 2003 International Conference on Athletic Excellence, the Nike Coach of the Year Awards, the 2005, 2006 and 2008 NCAA Final Four and the 2005, 2006 and 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association's National Conference. 

Wood called the crowd full of shocked peers staring at Katie a "perceived threat" and likened the situation to a moment in sports when an athlete needs to make a clutch play. 

 Physiological changes that occur during a perceived threat include increased heart rate, change in breathing patterns, pauses in the digestive system and a rise in muscular tension levels; Wood described the final change as the one most important for athletes to understand because it will determine their poise under pressure and their performance in the moment. 

"The best preparation," Wood stated, was "to plan ahead for such moments and their best and worst possible outcomes."  He followed the sentiment with an anecdote about an Olympic athlete who, due to planning, was able to win a gold medal despite a time-stopping setback.

Brain Alexander, a senior mid-fielder for the Assumption College Men's Lacrosse Team, commented that Wood's use of famous anecdotes were "really good because those made me want to listen." 

 Alexander also commented that, "I had not heard of him before but he was a very good speaker. He was extremely confident and he spoke very well." While Alexander enjoyed the seminar, for the most part, he responded that most of the concepts were all things he'd heard before.

Danielle D'Amico, a senior attack for the Assumption College Women's Lacrosse Team also enjoyed Wood's use of anecdotes, stating, "I thought it was cool how he knows them on a personal level. It kind of sets an example for the athletes and gives them inspiration to do better and get their mental game right."  D'Amico also jokingly stated that the most memorable part of the seminar was "[Wood's] accent," but then added more seriously "I remember him telling the story about when he went to ask a girl to dance in middle school."  D'Amico recalled when Wood described the nerve he had to ask an upperclassmen girl to dance which, despite rejection, raised his confidence level because he felt that no other boy had the courage to attempt it.

Both D'Amico and Alexander reported that, like roughly 90 percent of the sports-loving crowd, they wore sweatpants to the event.