How to Build Unbreakable Teams: Sports Psychology Secrets for Business Leaders with Graham Winter

In this episode of The Paul Taylor Podcast, I sit down with Performance Psychologist, author, facilitator, and coach, Graham Winter. We explore the fascinating intersection of athletic and corporate excellence, uncovering why the principles that drive gold medal performances can transform business leadership—and why some approaches that work in sports could actually derail your corporate team. From managing strong personalities and building unshakeable team cohesion to achieving sustainable peak performance without burnout, this conversation delivers practical insights for anyone leading high-stakes teams. Whether you're a corporate leader looking to enhance team dynamics, an athlete seeking to optimise your mental game, or simply someone interested in the psychology of excellence, you'll discover evidence-based strategies for creating environments where both psychological safety and accountability can flourish.

Key Topics:

• Career Path: Moving between sports and business psychology

• Sport vs Business: The key differences in coaching athletes versus corporate professionals.

• Managing Egos: How to work with high-achieving individuals who have strong personalities.

• Team Unity: What it takes to get different people working together effectively as one team.

• Human Connection: Why relationships and shared purpose are crucial for team success.

• Safe Communication: How to create an environment where people feel safe to speak up while maintaining high standards.

• Sustainable Success: Ways to maintain peak performance without burning out over time.

Key Takeaways:

• Build consistent daily habits rather than chasing quick wins to achieve sustained high performance.

• Create team alignment by establishing a clear mission statement, defining each person's role, and scheduling regular social connection time.

• Set boundaries around your perfectionist tendencies by scheduling mandatory recovery periods after intense work phases.

• Foster psychological safety by explicitly rewarding constructive criticism while still holding people accountable to high standards.

• Protect your energy by tracking your daily energy levels and scheduling high-stakes work during your peak performance hours.

• When leading high performers, validate their confidence while gently guiding them to develop self-awareness through regular feedback sessions.

• Start each project by clearly defining both its purpose and how it will strengthen key relationships in your network.

Connect with Graham Winter:
Graham Winter on LinkedIn
Learn more about Graham Winter
Check Graham Winter's Blog

Connect with Paul Taylor:
Learn more about Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor on LinkedIn
Paul Taylor on Instagram
Paul Taylor on YouTube

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