Optimizing Otolaryngology Training Through Sports Psychology—The Mental Game

Importance: Otolaryngologists share many important characteristics with elite athletes, including specialized skill development through rigorous training, complex motor activity under pressure, and performance with high stakes. Applied sports psychology emerged to help athletes develop the intangible skills necessary to succeed in this environment. This body of literature represents a valuable opportunity for the otolaryngology community, where mental training is yet to be fully integrated. Today's otolaryngologists can particularly benefit from these lessons, as they contend with an increasing workload and expanding responsibilities in an ever-evolving health care landscape. Observations: Mental imagery, mindfulness, and growth mindset are 3 core techniques with demonstrated benefits in sports and increasing evidence in surgery. Mental imagery helps establish preoperative confidence and neural preparedness. Mindfulness bolsters focus during performance and resilience throughout one's career. A growth mindset fosters adaptability and perseverance in response to setbacks. Randomized studies have shown these interventions can enhance technical performance, mitigate stress, and prevent burnout in surgical trainees. Evidence suggests that residency programs can best teach these techniques through formal instruction and expert-led practice. There may also be a benefit to training educators in growth-focused coaching. Conclusions and Relevance: As the field of otolaryngology continues to advance clinically and technologically, it must also innovate in how it educates its surgeons. Mental skills training is a feasible, evidence-based method to optimize surgical performance and surgeon well-being. These skills promote confidence, adaptability, focus, and resilience-all qualities that enable safer patient care and more sustainable careers. By embracing these insights from sports psychology, otolaryngology programs can better prepare their trainees to meet the demands of modern practice.