What are the most common mistakes when evaluating your performance?

1 Mistake #1: Focusing on the wrong metrics

One of the biggest mistakes when evaluating your performance is to rely on the wrong metrics, such as your win rate, your kill-death ratio, or your rank. While these numbers can give you some indication of your progress, they are not the only or the best way to measure your skill. They can be influenced by many external factors, such as your teammates, your opponents, your luck, or your mood. Moreover, they can create unrealistic expectations, pressure, and frustration, especially if you compare them to others or to yourself in different contexts. Instead of focusing on the outcomes, you should focus on the processes, such as your decision making, your communication, your mechanics, or your strategy. These are the aspects that you can control, improve, and learn from, regardless of the results.

2 Mistake #2: Ignoring feedback and criticism

Another common mistake when evaluating your performance is to ignore or dismiss feedback and criticism from others, such as your coaches, your peers, or your viewers. While some feedback may be unhelpful, rude, or biased, there is always something valuable that you can learn from it, if you are willing to listen and reflect. Feedback and criticism can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, expose your blind spots and biases, and challenge your assumptions and habits. They can also provide you with new perspectives, insights, and ideas that can enhance your gaming skills. Therefore, you should welcome feedback and criticism as opportunities to grow, and not as threats to your ego or your identity.

3 Mistake #3: Neglecting self-reflection and analysis

A third common mistake when evaluating your performance is to neglect self-reflection and analysis, which are crucial for learning and improving. Self-reflection and analysis involve reviewing your own gameplay, either by watching replays, recording your thoughts, or writing notes. They allow you to examine your actions, choices, and outcomes, and to understand why you did what you did, what worked and what didn't, and what you can do better next time. They also help you to set realistic goals, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements. Without self-reflection and analysis, you may miss important lessons, repeat the same mistakes, or stagnate in your skill level.

5 Mistake #5: Not seeking or applying new knowledge and skills

A fifth common mistake when evaluating your performance is to not seek or apply new knowledge and skills that can help you improve your gaming skills. There is always something new that you can learn, whether it is a game mechanic, a strategy, a technique, or a tip. However, many gamers either do not seek new knowledge and skills, because they think they know enough, they are afraid of change, or they are not interested in learning; or they do not apply new knowledge and skills, because they forget, they are reluctant, or they are not consistent. To avoid this mistake, you should always be curious, open-minded, and willing to try new things, and you should also practice, experiment, and test what you learn, until you master it.

6 Mistake #6: Not having fun or enjoying the game

A final common mistake when evaluating your performance is to not have fun or enjoy the game, which is the ultimate reason why you play. Sometimes, gamers get so caught up in their performance, their goals, their metrics, or their feedback, that they forget to have fun or enjoy the game. They may lose sight of what they love about the game, what makes them happy, or what gives them satisfaction. They may also neglect other aspects of their gaming experience, such as their social interactions, their creativity, or their expression. To avoid this mistake, you should always remember why you play, what you enjoy, and what you value, and you should also balance your performance with your pleasure, your improvement with your enjoyment, and your evaluation with your appreciation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?