Dr Steve Ingham, an experienced sports scientist and performance coach, discusses his journey and challenges in the sports industry. Topics include building trust in talent pathways, the importance of interpersonal skills, the role of a sports scientist in leadership, balancing detail and the big picture, goal clarity and feedback, and the genesis of his podcast Supporting Champions.
Establishing trust and fostering collaboration within a performance support team is crucial for enhancing athlete performance.
When building a performance support team, consider the character, attitude, and self-management skills of potential candidates, as these qualities promote a culture of collaboration and adaptability.
Leadership within the performance support environment should prioritize empathy-building activities and create opportunities for open dialogue to promote effective communication, trust, and collaboration within the team.
Deep dives
Building Trust and Collaboration in a Performance Environment
In order to enhance athlete performance, it is crucial for support practitioners to establish trust and foster collaboration within a team. This involves creating an environment where individuals feel heard and valued, regardless of their specific discipline. By listening attentively and understanding each other's perspectives, practitioners can work together more effectively. Encouraging empathy and camaraderie through team-building activities can also help break down barriers and improve communication. The goal is to prioritize team development and create opportunities for meaningful collaboration across different domains. By doing so, practitioners can collectively enhance their understanding of athlete needs and work towards shared objectives.
Recruiting for Character and Attitude in Performance Support Teams
When building a performance support team, it is important to consider the character, attitude, and self-management skills of potential candidates. These qualities are often more valuable than specific domain expertise, as they can foster a culture of collaboration and adaptability. The recruitment process should include assessments and interviews that test for these characteristics, in addition to evaluating technical competencies. By seeking out individuals who exhibit a growth mindset, team-oriented attitudes, and strong self-management skills, organizations can assemble teams that are resilient, adaptive, and committed to enhancing athlete performance.
Empathy as a Foundation for Effective Leadership
Leadership within the performance support environment requires a foundation of empathy. Leaders should invest time in understanding their team members on a personal level, including their past experiences, preferences, and motivators. By fostering a culture of empathy and relationship-building, leaders can promote effective communication, trust, and collaboration within the team. This helps individuals feel valued and understood, ultimately improving their engagement and performance. Prioritizing empathy-building activities and creating opportunities for open dialogue can contribute to the development of a cohesive and supportive performance support team.
Importance of Building Authentic Confidence in Athletes
Building authentic confidence in athletes is crucial for optimal performance. The podcast discusses how providing objective evidence of an athlete's progress and abilities can enhance their confidence levels. By presenting athletes with concrete data, such as improved race times and physical capabilities, coaches can instill a genuine sense of confidence in their athletes. This authentic confidence allows athletes to perform at their best without the need for external validation or constant reassurances.
The Role of Effective Leadership in Team Success
Effective leadership plays a pivotal role in team success. The podcast explores the difference between managing a team and leading a team. It emphasizes the importance of being an influential leader who not only manages projects and budgets, but also inspires and influences the team towards collective goals. The discussion highlights the value of vulnerability and candid communication in building trust and fostering teamwork. It also emphasizes the need for leaders to actively listen, understand individual perspectives, and facilitate open conversations to improve team performance and engagement.
I’m excited to speak with Dr Steve Ingham this week. Steve has spent his career immersed in high performance having provided support to over 1000 athletes, of which over 200 have achieved World or Olympic medal success, including some of the world’s greatest athletes such as Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. He also coached Kelly Sotherton to Olympic and World medal winning success. Steve worked at the British Olympic Association as the Sports Science Manager and then English Institute of Sport as the Head of Physiology and then Director of Science and Technical Development where he led a team of 200 scientists in support of Team GB and Paralympics GB. Steve is the host of the brilliant Supporting Champions podcast which explores aspects of human performance. He is also an author, having written the best-selling ‘How to Support a Champion: The art of applying science to the elite athlete’ and ‘The First Hurdle: A guide to searching, applying and interviewing for jobs in sports performance’. Steve is a motivational speaker and consultant on the topic of 'high performance teams', having spoken at Google, McLaren, Elastic, Samsung, Legal and General.
Steve and I discuss his journey as a sport scientist and leader, discussing the challenges he’s experienced along the way and the leadership processes he executed to help develop some of the world’s greatest athletes.
