Supporting Champions 072 Cath Bishop on The Long Win
Dr Cath Bishop competed as a rower at three Olympic Games, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens (and I had the privilege of working with Cath throughout her career), with highlights including winning the World Championships in 2003 and an Olympic silver medal in 2004. As a diplomat specialising in conflict issues, Cath was posted to Sarajevo, Bosnia, Basra and Iraq, as well as leading in Whitehall on the UK civilian contribution to conflicts around the world.
Cath has written a book, out on 13th October 2020, calling on us all to redefine what winning is. Cath brings extraordinary and insight together, back up with numerous anecdotes, references and her own experience to examine what winning has come to mean to society and to us as individuals and offers a fresh perspective on how we might redefine success – personal and professional - for the longer-term.
This episode is sponsored by Junius, a multi-award winning, health food + drinks company. Junius have made a superb range of plant-based juices. We’ve partnered with Junius so that you can benefit from a 10% discount on your first order from a range of themed boxes of 7 juices. When you go to the checkout at wearejunius.com/shop make sure you enter the exclusive code Champions10.
Notes
Cath discusses the reasons for writing the book, being tested provoking debate and furthering thinking
Cath was a sporting failure at school
Shifting identity to an athlete and competing at the highest level.
Surviving in a high intensity, high performance environment
Relief at results at a high level but could it be reproduced at the Olympics
Being tough, but how much can you take?
When the results don’t match your physiology you realise there is more to performance
Associating failing to perform with your identity, at the time they were the same thing
If you come second you are a loser, but there is and has to be a different way
The longer you compete the more you realise the mental and cultural side of performance has a huge impact
There is a different psychology around ways to motivate it doesn’t need to be base on aggression or a macho narrative which is self-limiting
The Long Win – why are we still relying on outdated mantras and beliefs?
Athletes and even the athletes who are on the winning podium feeling unfulfilled and empty
Role modelling values and the way in which you can role model performance
Why is it important to win the medal? Why is it you train?
What are the costs of the sport you love, are you buying into them, do you understand them?
What is acceptable in the journey to success and what is unacceptable?
Playing to the longer term metric and strategies in both sport and business
Stating a wider purpose other than results
How can we unlock performance in a different way?
The IOC specifically states that competition is not between nations!
Working in partnership with your athlete and to explore unlocking even more
Links
Links for Cath
https://twitter.com/thecathbishop
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Win-search-better-succeed/dp/1788601912
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