Talking Performance

In this episode Richard Young shares his background in sports and coaching, highlighting his curiosity and experimentation in finding what matters in performance. He emphasizes the importance of creating systems that work for individuals and teams, focusing on the core elements that lead to sustained high performance. Richard discusses the concept of anti-fragility and how it can be developed and trained. He also explores the differences between medalists and non-medalists, emphasizing the importance of learned skills and the ability to adapt to challenges. The conversation explores the importance of principles, communication, and interconnection in coaching and high-performance sports and emphasizes the need for coaches to be principle-focused and have a deep understanding of their athletes. They touch on the importance of routines, trust in the process, and the courage to stick to systems. The concept of performance leadership is introduced, emphasizing the need for leaders to empower athletes and create a supportive environment.Richard has a website which goes by the same name as his book https://www.simplify2perform.com/Send us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

Andrew Gaze reflects on his early days in rugby, his rugby career, and his roles at Adidas and the his work with New Zealand Rugby. He also shares his involvement with the Coach for Life Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting, recognizing, connecting, and celebrating performance coaching in New Zealand. Coach for Life focuses on developing an athlete-centered and holistic coaching philosophy, reducing the dropout rate of youth in sports, and promoting sustainable success for coaches.Key themes from the conversation include the importance of building strong relationships with athletes, the need for coaches to continually develop and be open to change, the challenges of overloading and overtraining young athletes, and the value of cross-sharing ideas among coaches. The discussion also highlighted the challenges of funding and sustainability in the sporting landscape, as well as the recruitment and retention of coachesSend us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

Peter Arnott, golf coach and author, discusses his innovative coaching approach, including insights on skill acquisition, practice methods, and the constraints-led approach. Topics include differences between practice techniques, importance of playing more golf, think-aloud techniques, and systems thinking in coaching.

Susie Muirhead, former captain of the Black Sticks hockey team and Olympian, discusses her career as a hockey player and her work with Raise My Game. She emphasizes the importance of leadership and creating a culture of equal voice and contribution within a team.Suzie explains how Raise My Game uses card decks to facilitate conversations between coaches and athletes, focusing on holistic development and forward-looking plans. The process encourages ownership and motivation from the athletes and involves the coach and circle of support in the discussions, while addressing the challenges of managing multiple coaches and stakeholders in an athlete's journey.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

Dr Jay-Lee Nair joins the pod for round two after her first appearance talking about perfectionism in episode 99.I really enjoyed this chat, we just let it flow and I got to ask a number of questions that interested me and will help me to improve my coaching capacity. Dr Jay-Lee is a great thinker and is able to give practical examples which are easy to relate to. I trust you will enjoy the podSend us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

Laughton Kora, a musician and artist, shares his perspective on creativity, learning, and the music industry in a conversation with Jay Carter. They discuss their random meeting on a plane, their shared love for golf and music, and the importance of process and collaboration in creative endeavors. Laughton reflects on his early musical training and the influence of his father, as well as his time at drama school and the impact it had on his approach to performance. He also talks about his experience with the band Kora and his decision to leave in order to pursue his own artistic vision with his new band, Black Comet. In this conversation, they discuss the process of creating music and the importance of allowing space for creativity. They also touch on the pressure of consistently producing new music and the challenges of writing for an orchestra. Laughton shares his experience of creating unique sounds for film and art projects, using unconventional instruments and natural elements. They also discuss the similarities and differences between playing music and playing golf, including the importance of commitment and adapting to mistakesSend us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

This week I am joined by Darren Shand who discusses his background and journey to becoming the All Blacks manager. He talks about his early days in sports like cricket, hockey, and rafting and shares his transition to working in Canterbury Rugby and eventually taking on the role of All Blacks manager. He highlights the importance of humility and building a strong team culture. This conversation explores the key themes of leadership and team dynamics within the All Blacks rugby team. The chapters cover topics such as punctuality and accountability, shared leadership, creating an environment of expectations, fostering open communication and trust, encouraging vulnerability and collaboration, the concept of 'disagree and commit', choosing the right leaders, evolving leadership styles, evaluating what works, balancing diversity and unity, navigating decision-making and hierarchy, maintaining well-being in a high-pressure role, and the challenges of decompression and professionalism. He shares insights on player preparation, creating a supportive environment, empowering players to make decisions, and supporting players in difficult situations. Darren also reflects on the challenges and growth he experienced during his time with the All Blacks. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team culture, dealing with adversity and pressure, and accepting the outcome and moving forward. .Send us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

Explore unconventional recruitment strategies and career transitions, the role of humor in high-stress environments, intense selection processes in high-performance organizations like the Special Air Service, balancing teaching methods for different learners, and effective communication and leadership strategies for team performance.

PGA Golf Coach Ian Peek discusses how elite players improve performance through bio psych social influences, transition from high-tech golf studio to higher education, significance of youth sports events in player development, support structures in Swiss and German golf federations, holistic performance coaching in golf, performance analysis and emotional influence, and evolution of coaching style and mentorship.

Join David Galbraith as he discusses facing fears and living courageously, exploring the impact of bad habits on personal growth. Learn about workshops that provide a safe space for self-improvement and the importance of aligning decisions with values. Discover strategies for navigating challenges with bravery and planning for continuous self-improvement.