Finding Purpose on the Pitch with Performance Coach Steve Tashjian
Feb 21, 2024
01:10:40
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Kristen Holmes chats with high-performance expert Steve Tashjian on defining high performance, managing stress, coaching USMNT, and the importance of curiosity, risk, and humility in achieving success in sports and organizations.
The podcast episode features a discussion between Kristin Holmes and Steve Tashton, a world-renowned high-performance expert. They delve into the concept of high performance and how it can be achieved. Tashton emphasizes the importance of a relentless execution of one's process and the pursuit of a shared vision in high-pressure environments. He highlights the need for a process-driven approach rather than focusing solely on outcomes. Tashton also emphasizes the significance of curiosity, risk-taking, and innovation in fostering high performance within teams and organizations.
Creating a High-Performing Organization
In the episode, Tashton discusses the importance of a shared vision, mission, and values within an organization. He advocates for involving all members of the organization in defining these core elements to foster a sense of belonging, connection, and alignment of values. Tashton highlights the need for a collaborative and inclusive approach in order to create a high-performing environment. He emphasizes the power of curiosity, risk-taking, and the willingness to challenge existing norms as key drivers of innovation and success within organizations.
Pressure and Performance
The episode explores the topic of pressure and its impact on performance. Tashton shares his experiences working in high-pressure environments such as the English Premier League. He emphasizes the importance of mitigating uncertainty by focusing on process-driven approaches. Tashton highlights that refining processes, building resilience, and embracing a mindset of relentless execution of roles and standards are essential for managing pressure effectively. He also discusses the role of connection, belonging, and trust in creating a safe environment where individuals and teams can thrive under pressure.
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence and Human Interaction
In this podcast episode, the speaker reflects on their experience working with various individuals in high-pressure environments such as managers, technical directors, and club secretaries. They discuss how interacting with different personalities and cultural backgrounds helped them develop their emotional intelligence, human interaction, leadership, and people management skills. The speaker emphasizes that these skills were more important for their growth and success than technical or performance-related abilities. They also highlight the significance of having a servant's mindset, being part of something bigger than oneself, and aligning personal values with the organization's purpose.
Creating a Culture and Environment that Facilitates Human Complexity
The podcast episode explores the complexity of interacting with individuals who come from diverse backgrounds and have different experiences and perspectives. The speaker suggests that in order to manage this complexity, there needs to be a unifying layer or framework that resonates with everyone. They emphasize the importance of shared assumptions about humans and values that allow for the recognition and integration of different personality types and responses to pressure. They discuss the necessity of intention, purpose, and clear communication of values within an organization to ensure that all individuals can connect with a greater purpose and feel safe to take calculated risks and make decisions aligned with the shared vision.
On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by performance coach Steve Tashjian. Steve Tashjian is a world-renowned high-performance expert with decades of experience in elite sport, managing teams, and high performers. He has prepared triathletes for the Kona Ironman, boxers for world title fights, teams to play Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League, and the U.S. Men’s Team (USMNT) for the World Cup in 2022. Kristen and Steve will discuss how Steve got into sport and high performance (2:08), how he defines high performance (9:15), organizations reacting to stress (14:38), managing performance for the USMNT (18:46), working for Everton FC (24:23), managing the complex nature of an organization and its players (31:50), mitigating pressure (40:31), curiosity and risk leading to high performance (48:44), coaching teams vs individuals (55:52), and where things go wrong for organizations and individuals (1:05:19).