10 Reasons why maps are the way to go

10 REASONS WHY MAPS ARE THE WAY TO GO
How we do it
systems for success

So what is it that enables a Roger Federer or a Tiger Woods to deliver their very best when the pressure is greatest? And, more to the point, is it really possible to analyze and "package" that ability, so that it can be learned and applied to any kind of pressure situation?

We've proved that it is. We design anddeliver complete performance systems that work on three levels (as outlined in "what we do"), to help people optimize their natural talent and acquired skills consistently in every aspect of their professional and personal lives:
* Key principles: the overall reference point that provides a sense of direction; the "angle" on the task that needs to be accomplished. The aim here is to clarify thebig picture; to give the individual or team a rock solid sense of what, in fundamental terms, they need to do in order to achieve their objective (something that is incredibly easy to lose sight of when the pressure starts to mount).
* Frameworks: in the form of practical maps, which are absolutely key to what we do at Gazing. The maps we provide show, on a single page, the terrain on which atask needs to be executed; the main obstacle or hazards that lie in the way; and the most direct route to a successful outcome. They allow the user to "see" where they are now, where they want to be, and how to move forward in order to get there. Gazing performance maps can be shared by members of a team; and over time, they become internalized so that users no longer need to refer to the physicalobject to know what action or decision to take.
* Practical tools: to provide a structured yet flexible approach to the task in hand, moment by moment, as it's performed. It's here that Gazing can really transform the way people operate, helping them make sense of - and respond appropriately to - challenging, complex or tense situations, as they arise. Used in conjunction with the relevantmap, Gazing tools are proven methods for turning clear thinking into effective action. 

Why do maps play such a crucially important part in the Gazing approach to optimizing performance under pressure? We'll give you 10 compelling reasons:
1. Maps chart the territory
Improved performance under pressure depends on learning new mental skills. But for most people, the psychological aspects of atask may seem hard to grasp. Maps demystify this unfamiliar territory by showing what is there - the main features, obstacles and hazards - so that users know exactly where they are, and what to expect.
2. Maps are descriptive (rather than interpretative)
The job of a map is to show you the territory, not to tell you which path or route to take. It provides valuable information, but it leavesyou interpret it, and to decide how to act upon it. Used correctly, maps promote flexibility and choice, rather than rigid or dogmatic approach. 
3. Maps are inherently practical
Everyone knows how to use maps. We work out where we are, where we want to get to, what the best route is . . . and then we get going.    But they are practical in another sense, too. Psychological research shows thathumans have a natural tendency to arrange complex information spatially inside our heads; to create our own mental or ‘cognitive’ maps. So the Gazing approach taps into the way people's brains actually work.
4. Maps are highly memorable
Maps present a simple summary of what can be a huge amount of information. More than that, they present it in a form that the human brain finds easy to recall:it's a widely understood psychological principle that we remember pictures or visual diagrams many times more effectively than the written word. In fact, once we are truly familiar with a map, we no longer need to look at it; we carry it around inside our heads - and can refer to it whenever we need to.
5. Maps are especially useful at times of uncertainty
You don’t have to use a map if you...