Demystifying Mental Toughness

Today I go on to discuss a very common challenge many football or soccer players find a problem. It's their focus, specifically when too much attention is placed on outcomes and results. What then often happens is, football or soccer players then put too much pressure on themselves. On the pitch, spectators or coaches will then notice a player who doesn't assert him or herself on a game, someone who often hides in the background and doesn't perform freely. I also share some thoughts on how to overcome this inner battle. Enjoy tuning in! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

In today's episode Audrie Woodhouse, who was a fabulous actress and performer and now a successful coach and speaking consultant, shares some great ideas when it comes down to communication skills and public speaking, especially when we consider the key elements of leadership communication. This episode is also a very helpful episode for those who dread speaking or performing and who let their inner chatter get out of control and end up getting very nervous. Managing state, speech preparation and mental preparation as well as channelling your focus are features of what we discuss. Enjoy! Key Learning Points: Understanding yourself better, what it is you're passionate about and what you want to say to the world when you speak is essential. A speaking coach helps you write your own story so that you speak with your true authentic voice. Politicians are under an awful lot of pressure, they have advisors, speech writers and communication strategists to help them come up with the right things to say however, that approach is not always effective. Using your breath is key to managing your psychological state before you speak. Body language is an important part of building rapport when you speak in public. Connect with Audrie Woodhouse LinkedIn Audrie Woodhouse Honestly Speaking Website Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to The Mental Edge Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To listen to relevant podcast episodes that link to improving your communication skills Ep197: Nick Jonsson – Mental Health: How To Overcome Executive Loneliness Ep139: Steve Beharall – Steve Beharall's Journey from Football Coach to CEO Ep128: Paula Eddy-Wilcox – Can You Show Vulnerability and Be Mentally Tough? Yes! Ep120: David Charlton – Sport Coach Development: Helping Athletes Perform Better by Adapting How You Communicate Ep041: Paul McGee – How to Develop Interpersonal Confidence Other Useful Resources linked to developing your communication skills The Mental Edge - How to Assert Yourself so That Other People Don't Throw You Off Your Game The Mental Edge - How to Improve The Skills of Team Captains eBlog - 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog: Why You Should Recognise The Power of Your Words Blog: How Mentally Healthy is Your Clubs Sporting Environment

Some days as a footballer, for a variety of reasons you may feel flat and approach a match out of sync mentally and physically. So what should you do on these days? In today's episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness the 5th of a 10 part series for football enthusiasts, I share some ideas. We'll look at how you can rouse yourself, how you can use willpower and your actions and not just rely of your coach or gaffer to inspire you. Enjoy! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

Nick Jonsson, author of 'Executive Loneliness' and co-founder of the Executives’ Global Network in Singapore, dives deep into the isolation faced by top executives. He sheds light on the concept of 'smiling depression,' where outward success masks internal struggles. The podcast emphasizes the importance of peer support, vulnerability, and self-care strategies to combat executive burnout. Jonsson shares impactful insights on the necessity of honest conversations and goal-setting to maintain mental well-being in high-pressure environments.

Whether you play football at grassroots or in the Champions League one thing is for certain you will be criticised by someone. It may be a team-mate or coach trying to drive up standards. Or it may be a friend, a partner or one of the many keyboard warriors out there who offend you. Many factors can influence how you take and then respond to such criticism, as I talk about in today's episode, the 4th of a 10 part series for football enthusiasts. You'll also hear me share some advice so that you don't get overcome with emotion and react accordingly. Enjoy! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

Ideally, we'd be able to recognise the need for toughness when we train and play sport and be able to switch it on and off as we please. Unfortunately, this isn't the case as Clinical Psychologist and author, Amy Izycky, confirms when she talks about how extreme versions of toughness, mental toughness and resilience can be counter-productive. In today's short BITE-SIZED episode taken from episode #065, Amy and I go on to discuss the word "Toughness" where we weigh up the pros and cons of being tough in a sporting environment and how our personality traits can then seep into our lives and impact our mental health. Key Learning Points: Some sports take pride in promoting themselves as "tough" sports where only the strongest physically and mentally can survive. Sport teaches us certain personality traits such as focus, commitment, discipline and aggression which can be very positive traits, though taken too far they can have a negative impact on a person's mental health. Being able to switch anger and aggression on and off in sport is a skill which can be difficult to master. Extreme versions of toughness and resilience can be damaging on a person's life. Clinical psychologists are interested in supporting athletes who operate at the extreme end of needing "control" or the extreme versions of "toughness". Sports Psychologists are concerned with optimising performance and proactively maintaining and enhancing psychological wellbeing. As a Sports Psychologist we are able to identify if there are any mental health concerns which link to anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addiction. We then signpost onto mental health specialists such as clinical and counselling psychologists. It's important to do your homework when gaining support for your mental health or sporting mindset to ensure that the practitioner is suitably qualified and accredited to organisations such as the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). Connect with Amy Izycky Instagram LinkedIn Website BOOK: Skewed to the Right, Sport, Mental Health and Vulnerability Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to The Mental Edge Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To listen to relevant podcast episodes that link to mental health Ep015: Nick Grantham – Essential Elements of Rest and Recovery Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness Ep113: Polly Brennan – The Relationship Between Mental Fitness, Mental Health and Mental Toughness Ep138: Nick Littlehales – Why do the Mentally Tough see Sleep and Recovery as Important Other Useful Resources linked to Mental Health Blog - Make Better Decisions to Help Your Sport Performance Blog - 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport Blog: How Mentally Healthy is Your Clubs Sporting Environment Blog: Using ACT and Mindfulness to Improve Your Sporting Performances

Footballers - how do you view the coach or manager asking you to play out of position? Negatively as a threat or positively as a challenge? In today's episode, the 3rd of a 10 part series, I'll be sharing my thoughts on why some footballers gravitate to the negative side and how they can help themselves, their team-mates, coach and club better. Your perception of your situation is one avenue I explore, alongside judgement, and how you judge yourself or others. Ego is another area as well as how a person with a threat mindset approaches this situation. The solutions, relate to adopting a challenge mindset, seeing playing out of position as a learning experience and trying to keep your sense of humour. Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

In today's short bite sized episode, taken from episode #093 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, I was joined by prominent Sports Psychologist, Dan Abrahams. We discussed why athletes can struggle to repeat their training performances in competitive matches and events. Dan goes on to share his thoughts why this is the case, some tools he uses to help clients and specifically the concept of a game face which arguably every athlete or player should have in their toolkit. Key Learning Points: Competitive events and matches can mean different things to different athletes with a range of responses such as: playing in an inhibited way, having a rise in intensity levels or displaying a drop off in intensity. Unhelpful thoughts, feelings and emotions can often be present for athletes. "I've got to perform", "I must…" language often fuels pressure. Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is very helpful. A game face is a practical solution which takes into account sports psychology theories such as self efficacy theory and the individual zone of optimal functioning. Connect with Dan Abrahams Website LinkedIn Twitter Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

It is common for footballers or soccer players to have different values and ideas about the game than their coaches. On occasions, this can result in relationship challenges, where some players feel like they have been treated unfairly. On the pitch their application and effort in training and in matches, can slowly dwindle, often without them realising. Before they know it, they are only giving 70% of their full capacity. Away from football this can take a toll and negatively impact their day to day lives, mood and relationships with loved ones and friends too. What's the answer? Many of these footballers or soccer players can get caught out focusing on external factors outside of their control. This episode, is set up to help you if this situation sounds familiar, where I share a few ideas on how to place your attention on helpful things so that you give yourself the best chance of turning things around. Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

In today's short bite sized episode, I chat with Dr Jim Afremow, the co-author of The Leaders Mind. Jim shares with you his thoughts about the field of sport psychology to improve your understanding on what we can offer as practitioners. He also touches on the crossover-between supporting people with performance issues as well as mental health concerns, working with youngsters and the fact mental skills, as is the case with mental toughness can be learned with good support and guidance. Key Takeaways include: Without taking care of your mental health, you'll find it difficult to perform at your best consistently. Too many people leave their mindset to chance, sports psychology bridges this gap with proactive support. Many people believe that you're either born with confidence or you're not which is incorrect. Mental skills training can help you improve your confidence levels. be developed and improved upon. Connect with Dr Jim Afremow: LinkedIn Website Connect with Phil White: Instagram Website Book The Leaders Mind Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to The Mental Edge Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Podcast episodes to improve your approach to playing sport or coaching Ep 061: Paul Lyons – Why You Should Build Your Mental Toughness Ep 084: Dr Jim Afremow and Phil White – Mental Toughness and The Leaders Mind Ep 121: Doug Strycharczyk and Dr John Perry What Is New? Developments in Mental Toughness Research and Practice Ep140: Chris Cook – How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian EP147: Aaron Walsh – The Application of Mental Performance Coaching in Elite Professional Rugby Relevant blogs to help you improve your approach Blog – 9 Tips for Children from Olympians Blog – 3 Tips for Playing with Confidence under Pressure Blog: 3 Tips to Help You Overcome Setbacks Blog: Coach Development – Helping Athletes Overcome Fear of Failure Sport Specific Resources from our Sports Psychology library to help you Soccer or Football Psychology Resources Hockey Psychology Resources Rugby Psychology Resources