There is an actual scientific study that explains why Lionel Messi might have an advantage over other soccer players.
Let me give you the spoiler; it's all in the visuals of the field and what psychologists call "Expert intuition".
Professor Norbert Hagemann, from the University of Kassel, explains it this way: "Footballers are active on a huge field and have to attend to, or view, so many people on the field that we believed the best player could attend to more players at the same time."
So, a player like Messi have this broader visual span that lets him make better decisions about how to mobilize his resources (his skills as well as the other players') in order to generate the best outcome.
But then, there is also Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, who also has an opinion of what might be happening inside Lionel's head; he suggest that what is going on here is what he calls the "Expert intuition," which is a type of problem solving method developed by experience. From this view, this explains Messi's ability to decide where to run or who to pass the ball before any event happens yet, because it is all about intuition.
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Let me give you the spoiler; it's all in the visuals of the field and what psychologists call "Expert intuition".
Professor Norbert Hagemann, from the University of Kassel, explains it this way: "Footballers are active on a huge field and have to attend to, or view, so many people on the field that we believed the best player could attend to more players at the same time."
So, a player like Messi have this broader visual span that lets him make better decisions about how to mobilize his resources (his skills as well as the other players') in order to generate the best outcome.
But then, there is also Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, who also has an opinion of what might be happening inside Lionel's head; he suggest that what is going on here is what he calls the "Expert intuition," which is a type of problem solving method developed by experience. From this view, this explains Messi's ability to decide where to run or who to pass the ball before any event happens yet, because it is all about intuition.
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It's kind of difficult which of the two theories could explain a convincing truth, but one thing is certain; having a broader visual of the field and a better intuition developed on experience helps footballers to predict upcoming plays in a more precise way, thus, making better decisions.
This is not to say that a soccer player always knows what is going to happen; there is always a certain amount of bet on any action. And yet, this quality has contributed big time to the fact that Lionel Messi has this uncanny ability to make better decisions in the field, out-playing his rivals.
In other words, he always run where he thinks the ball might be in the future. And what happens if the ball is not there? Easy, you just re-strategize from there.
If you think about it, this is a great lesson that might be applied in every other arena of our lives. You expand your visual span in order to get an insight of which might be the factors and variables affecting your playing field, and then, make a prediction of what might happen, based on your intuition (and experience). From there, you just make a decision where to go.
Here are some examples:
In Business; before a presentation in front of an audience, you collect a wide variety of possible questions that your customers, investors or colleages might ask you. Even more, you go beyond to take initiative on the actual decisions that they take after your presentations. The idea of "Running where the ball is" is about expanding your visual about the theme or topic you will be discussing, in order for you to have weapons and anticipating everything.
In your career; We are in the middle of March and you'v been promised a position in another city in July; you've just found an apartment these days and paid a deposit for it, even when you don't know if you'll get that position, but hey, it is an expensive city with a vibrant economy; you know that if you wait until last time, you might end up getting an apartment so far from where you are going to work. Besides, the fact that you've already paid gives you an extra motivation in order to get that job. Can you see that the idea of "Running where the ball is" is about mobilizing future resources in order to reach a goal today?
In dating life; You've made a reservation for a great restaurant and booked an hotel room for both of you, even when you don't know if she/he will ever say yes to your invitation. Actually, you don't even know who to invite, yet. But can you see that the idea of "Running where the ball is" is about strategizing backwards from the outcome you want?
At your work; You want to be the CEO of your company. You already know that a great CEO knows his company from left to right and from inside to the outside. Why waiting until you become a CEO to start actually visiting your company's other divisions and how they operate? Of course, this would add 20 hours of extra work, but in a few years, when you get that position, you'll arrive there prepared.
The lesson is clear; Run where the ball is going to be.
This is not to say that a soccer player always knows what is going to happen; there is always a certain amount of bet on any action. And yet, this quality has contributed big time to the fact that Lionel Messi has this uncanny ability to make better decisions in the field, out-playing his rivals.
In other words, he always run where he thinks the ball might be in the future. And what happens if the ball is not there? Easy, you just re-strategize from there.
If you think about it, this is a great lesson that might be applied in every other arena of our lives. You expand your visual span in order to get an insight of which might be the factors and variables affecting your playing field, and then, make a prediction of what might happen, based on your intuition (and experience). From there, you just make a decision where to go.
Here are some examples:
In Business; before a presentation in front of an audience, you collect a wide variety of possible questions that your customers, investors or colleages might ask you. Even more, you go beyond to take initiative on the actual decisions that they take after your presentations. The idea of "Running where the ball is" is about expanding your visual about the theme or topic you will be discussing, in order for you to have weapons and anticipating everything.
In your career; We are in the middle of March and you'v been promised a position in another city in July; you've just found an apartment these days and paid a deposit for it, even when you don't know if you'll get that position, but hey, it is an expensive city with a vibrant economy; you know that if you wait until last time, you might end up getting an apartment so far from where you are going to work. Besides, the fact that you've already paid gives you an extra motivation in order to get that job. Can you see that the idea of "Running where the ball is" is about mobilizing future resources in order to reach a goal today?
In dating life; You've made a reservation for a great restaurant and booked an hotel room for both of you, even when you don't know if she/he will ever say yes to your invitation. Actually, you don't even know who to invite, yet. But can you see that the idea of "Running where the ball is" is about strategizing backwards from the outcome you want?
At your work; You want to be the CEO of your company. You already know that a great CEO knows his company from left to right and from inside to the outside. Why waiting until you become a CEO to start actually visiting your company's other divisions and how they operate? Of course, this would add 20 hours of extra work, but in a few years, when you get that position, you'll arrive there prepared.
The lesson is clear; Run where the ball is going to be.
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