Bill Belichick's Mental Toughness

As leaders, our words and actions each day send a message to those around us. We can have a tremendous influence simply by being consistent with our demeanor and habits.

Last week, New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick was being grilled by the media on the injury status of his quarterback, Mac Jones. Reporters wanted information, but Belichick had little to offer.

The back-and-forth went on for a few minutes, but Belichick never appeared frustrated, nor did he give in to the pressure that comes with being secretive.

It may appear Belichick was being rude, obtuse or showing disdain for the media by uttering the phrase "Day by day" 12 different times in a short span. But that's a somewhat lazy analysis.

Belichick was simply showing his team and organization his mental toughness and unwavering discipline. He never raised his voice, never got annoyed and simply conveyed that he wasn't going to succumb to pressure.

Belichick wants his team to be mentally tough, willing to stay the course, and not allow the situation or moment to affect its concentration. Naturally, he is the example each day when he faces the press — and by behaving in the same manner regardless of how many ways reporters ask the same question, Belichick demonstrates mental toughness to those he leads.

According to habits and decision-making expert James Clear: "Mentally-tough leaders are more consistent than their peers. They have a clear goal that they work toward each day. They don’t let short–term profits, negative feedback, or hectic schedules prevent them from continuing the march towards their vision."

No matter the situation, no matter the outcome, Belichick will be the most consistent coach with behavior and routine, from the meeting rooms to his dealings with reporters.

So, how can we improve our own mental toughness?

To begin our mentally-tough journey, everything we do requires our best. From making our bed to writing in our journals, nothing can be ignored or glossed over.

We must improve our habits and develop a sense of grit toward our habits — never forgetting every day is the same in terms of how we must behave and react.

Write down five things you want to do every single day. It can be random and specific to your life. Then, execute them and review after 15 days. After 30 days, review this list again, and before long, you will start to increase your mental toughness. Don't expect to be a Navy SEAL in a month, but in 12 months, you can and will notice the difference if you adhere to the plan.

We become mentally tougher when we never surrender to our habits. No matter how many times Belichick is asked, he will never give in — and his mental toughness grows. The reporters are actually doing him a favor when they continue to probe.

They're building his mental toughness — as well as that of his team.