#295 Prof Robert Schinke - 8 Steps to Succeeding in Sport, Work, and Life
Aug 19, 2024
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Prof Robert Schinke, a distinguished sport psychology consultant and former equestrian athlete for Canada, shares insights from his new book, 'Gifted: 8 Steps to Succeeding in Sport, Work, and Life.' He emphasizes recognizing innate talents to achieve goals and discusses the evolving dynamics of sports that prioritize mental health over mere victories. Prof Schinke highlights the importance of cultural awareness in sports psychology, particularly for Indigenous athletes, and stresses the necessity of continuous self-reinvention for overall well-being and success.
Prof. Robert Schinke emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness in sports psychology to better support diverse athlete backgrounds and identities.
Building strong relationships with athletes is essential for effective mental performance strategies, facilitating trust and engagement in the process.
His new book 'Gifted' highlights eight lessons for recognizing innate talents, promoting mental resilience, and encouraging personal growth in various life aspects.
Deep dives
The Journey to Sports Psychology
The speaker shares his journey from being a junior equestrian athlete to becoming a recognized sports psychologist. He reflects on the inconsistencies he faced during his competitive years, including moments of triumph and setbacks. The exploration of sports psychology became a personal quest to understand these fluctuations in performance, leading to a transition into academia and applied sports psychology. His early exposure to the writings of influential figures in the field ignited his passion and set the course for his career in helping athletes improve their mental game.
Cultural Sports Psychology
A significant theme in the discussion is the concept of cultural sports psychology, which emphasizes understanding athletes' unique backgrounds and identities. The speaker notes the diverse spectrum of athletes he has worked with, highlighting the necessity for coaches and sports psychologists to comprehend these differences. He identifies a lack of cultural awareness training in sports psychology, which often affects the retention of athletes from varied backgrounds. By coining the term 'cultural sports psychology,' he aimed to address these gaps and foster a more inclusive approach to athlete support.
The Importance of Relationships
The speaker discusses the critical role of building relationships in sports psychology, particularly with athletes who initially may not see the value in this field. He shares anecdotes about his proactive approach in connecting with athletes by engaging in their training routines and showing genuine interest in their struggles. This approach helped him establish rapport and trust, which were essential in facilitating effective mental performance strategies. He emphasizes that understanding athletes' personal experiences associated with their identities is key to delivering meaningful mental support.
Navigating Transitions in Sport
Transitioning from amateur to professional sport, as well as preparing for life after competitive athletics, is presented as a complex journey. He explains that many athletes struggle with this because they are often not equipped with the skills needed for a successful transition. The podcast highlights the importance of supporting athletes in navigating these changes through focused mental skills training and tailored transition plans. By addressing the unique challenges they face, sports psychologists can help athletes maintain their well-being and purpose both during and after their athletic careers.
Lessons from 'Gifted'
The discussion concludes with insights from the speaker's new book, 'Gifted,' which offers a holistic approach to pursuing excellence in sports and life. He outlines the eight lessons that promote mental resilience and personal growth, emphasizing the significance of recognizing one's natural gifts and the importance of authenticity. Through these principles, the book encourages individuals to navigate challenges while continuously evolving and re-gifting their knowledge and experiences to others. The speaker's experiences underscore the necessity of applying the concepts found in his book to foster thriving individuals in all areas of life.
I’m delighted to speak with renowned sport psychology consultant and scientist, Prof Robert Schinke this week.
Robert is a former equestrian, representing Canada in the 1987 Pan-American Games. He has a Doctorate in Education from the University of Alberta and he completed post-doctoral studies in Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2002 he joined Laurentian University's School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and became a Full Professor in 2010.
Robert is the current two-term President of the International Society of Sport Psychology and his publications include six authored books and nineteen co-edited textbooks, including the Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology. Robert has also co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Robert’s science to practice interests include the contextual optimisation of high-performance sport environments, effective elite athlete transitional processes such as promotion and relocation, athlete mental health from a holistic vantage, and organisation-wide capacity building, informed by scientific inquiry.
In this episode we discuss Robert’s fantastic new book “Gifted: 8 Steps to Succeeding in Sport, Work, and Life” in which Robert encourages readers to recognise and embrace their innate talents and abilities. Throughout the 8 lessons, readers will discover how successful athletes, coaches, educators, and service industry professionals use their natural gifts to achieve their goals.
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