Task orientation

With a task orientation (also called a mastery orientation) an athlete feels successful when they have learned something new, become better than they were yesterday, or given everything they had. The criterion of success is self-referenced: you compare yourself with yourself. This disposition makes motivation durable and lowers anxiety.

A task-oriented athlete sees information for growth in a mistake rather than a verdict, so fear of making mistakes sits more lightly on them and they fall into perfectionism less often. They stay interested for longer and get through slumps more easily. Even when losing on the scoreboard, they can count a performance as good if they moved their craft forward.

How strong your task orientation is can be measured with goal orientation questionnaires in the tests section. A high score on that scale is a good sign: it is associated with less anxiety and more persistence. The assessment shows the balance between task and outcome orientation.

Task orientation is strengthened by process goals, a progress journal and reviewing performances around "what did I learn" rather than only "did I win". It helps to move attention from the result to specific actions. There is a selection of practices in the exercises section.

Task orientation is a key concept in achievement goal theory and the opposite of ego orientation. It echoes the autonomous forms of motivation such as identified regulation. Developing it reduces fear of making mistakes and softens perfectionism in sport.