<p><strong><em>politicwise</em></strong><em> is where politics meets personal development. Become a free subscriber and get evidence-based ideas and tools for personal growth and wiser politics. For those whose life's work is more than a job</em></p><p></p><p>In this podcast episode, I’m sharing <strong>5 obstacles to winning the Inner</strong> <strong>Game of Politics.</strong></p><p>Performance = Potential - Interference</p><p>In politics, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicwise.org/p/the-inner-game-of-tennis">we always play an outer game and an inner game. </a></p><p>The outer game is formulating good policy, forming coalitions, expressing your ideas convincingly etc.</p><p>The inner game is being aware of what really matters to you and others, managing your thoughts and emotions, staying grounded etc.</p><p>Playing the inner game effectively is less about adding than subtracting:</p><p><p>Performance = potential - interference</p></p><p>Reducing interference allows you to play fully to your potential.</p><p>What are the inner interferences / obstacles getting in the way in politics?</p><p></p><p>1. Lack of Focus</p><p>* <strong>Where to focus</strong> is about prioritising (via ‘the 1 thing’ or ‘impact-feasibility matrix’)</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicwise.org/p/12-questions-focus-on-what-matters"><strong>What matters most</strong></a> is about knowing your criteria for prioritising, i.e. your values and those of your group; and ‘knowing’ this cognitively, emotionally, somatically</p><p>* <strong>How to keep focus</strong> is about selective attention and open monitoring; creating habits/systems against distraction to avoid ego depletion & Zeigarnik effect; saying ‘No’ to important things</p><p></p><p>2. Chronic Stress</p><p>Chronic stress interferes in three ways:</p><p>* <strong>Cognitive impairment</strong>, especially for those parts of the brain involved in executive functions like decision-making and planning</p><p>* <strong>Emotional dysregulation</strong>: long-term stress causes anxiety and it makes the brain's amygdala more sensitive to threat, feeling on edge</p><p>* <strong>Declining physical health</strong>: chronic stress weakens the immune system and can also increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases</p><p></p><p>3. Cognitive Bias</p><p>Brains evolved with several mental shortcuts that made sense over a long stretch of our specie's existence, but can and often get in the way of deliberate decision-making for a complex problem.</p><p>I collected<a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicwise.org/p/30-cognitive-biases-you-fall-for-in-politics"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicwise.org/p/30-cognitive-biases-you-fall-for-in-politics"><strong>30 cognitive biases you fall for in politics</strong></a>.</p><p></p><p>4. ‘House Divided’</p><p>“A house divided against itself, cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln</p><p>The inner ‘house divided’ is about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/transcending-the-past/202301/self-sabotage-which-parts-of-ourselves-are-we-fighting">parts of yourself sabotaging your efforts</a>.</p><p></p><p>5. Feeling Powerful (unchecked)</p><p>Feeling powerful can make you …</p><p>* More aggressive</p><p>* More risk-taking </p><p>* Have a (false) sense of control</p><p>* More goal-focused, less vigilant</p><p>* More ego-centric and less empathetic</p><p>* Take action more boldly (as limitations on action are removed)</p><p>These effects can be helpful, but also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicwise.org/p/the-power-paradox">become an obstacle if unchecked.</a></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.politicwise.org?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">www.politicwise.org</a>