Much is made of the importance of a team culture when it comes to success – it is often touted as the secret sauce to a team’s results.

In fact, Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United Football Manager (soccer) would often cite his team dynamic as their secret.

There have been a number of examples of when this has worked, when a team “fire” together, and – against all odds – come out on top. I mean heck, Disney has cornered the market on highly produced comeback stories.

However, there are countless missed opportunities when a team doesn’t fire together, when a few rogue individuals can completely derail a team. And what could have been, never was!

So, WHY. Why does that happen? What strategies are at play during a miraculous turn-around, or a misfire opportunity?

Both Maradona and Disney may have us thinking one or all of these are at play. However, the reality is a little less dramatic and a lot more reliable.

In order for us to understand HOW we first need to understand WHY.

And that is what this podcast will focus on: How and why do some teams work, and some don’t?

Download the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing slides mentioned on this episode here. 

If you'd like to hear more podcasts for athletes and coaches specifically around building effective teams, especially for those in a leadership team, we have put them into a handy playlist for you. Simply go to: https://www.smartmind.com/team – your on-the-go playlist will be sent straight to you.

By taking a deep look at the typical yearly cycle most athletes traditionally follow, we uncover the hidden mental and emotional minefield athletes unknowingly put themselves through every year:

So in this episode, we unpack what is often ‘willingly’ done to self-sabotage the season and kill the momentum – all in the name of preparation, results and balance. Despite all this doom and gloom we will also (of course) outline what we can and should be doing to both optimise and build momentum as well as create a sustainable – and realistic – growth mindset over a full season, and even into our off-season.

So be prepared to have a mind (and behaviour) altering peek inside the brain of an optimised, elite athlete.

Still, feel like you need more? Then check out our Building Champion Minds online video training series.

In this episode of Brain in the Game, we look closely at the importance of our emotions when learning and retaining new skills, and importantly, our how emotions can help or hinder the consistency of our performance.

Listen in to learn how to implement two simple but effective techniques that will optimise your performance system.

This is an audio replay of a recent training video utilised by some high-level athletes on skill acquisition, skill retention and skill optimisation. If you would prefer to watch the video and learn some further bonus material then click here.

Still feel like you want more? 

 Check out The Performance Framework FREE online self-assessment tool here.

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How to set sustainable objectives and goals, and 4 Key Frames necessary to consistently perform successfully.

In the previous episode (Episode #71) of Brain in the Game we looked at WHY we build pre-season objectives and goals and what that does to keep you on track.

In this episode (Episode #72) we look at HOW we set sustainable objectives and goals and the 4 Key Frames necessary to consistently perform successfully.

We take a deep look at:

So buckle up your mental safety harness as we go deep into your mind, the mind of a champion.

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." –⁠ James Clear, Atomic Habits

Statistically, they say the third Monday of the new year is mentally one of our darkest days for modern society, as we realise those New Years' resolutions we made (with all good intentions) have already slipped. Our plans of glory fly out the window before they even got started –⁠ all due to our inability to stay on track.

And as athletes, it’s that time of year too – post silly season – or at least it’s that time of the season when performance goal setting springs forth and our year becomes all too real.

Despite athletes' denials, they are human, and often suffer the same stickability issues as the rest of us. So in this episode we discuss the five key steps to staying on track with your performance goals:

So set aside just 20 minutes as we give you the rundown on the ins and outs of sustainable pre-season goal setting.

Almost every coach will understand the frustration and pain that comes from an athlete being mentally and emotionally paralysed by a mental block. That uncharacteristic derailing and shuddering halt of a normally calm, in control and capable athlete by what can only be described as an irrational FEAR –⁠ be it a block around a specific skill, a venue, or even within a competition.

In episode #70 of Brain in the Game we listen to a lecture I delivered recently (January 2019) on the four core components of mental blocks and how we, as coaches, can best manage the situation.

Four core mental block components:

And if you would like to view the slides of the Mental Blocks presentation I gave, they can be found here.

So sit back, enjoy and let's unpack performance mental blocks.

PLUS: A special offer for our podcast listeners with our FREE video series available for a limited time: The Performance Framework - see here for details.

Whose fault was it, really? When things are going well and athletes are winning, people love to take the credit. However, when things fall over, those same people are very quick to play the "Blame Game".

"It wasn’t my fault... they didn’t give me the right information... I couldn’t do my job... they distracted me." etc etc etc…

The reality is when we descend into the Blame Game we are no longer in a position to move forward or grow. Laying blame is counter-productive to development and momentum.

In this episode, we are going to examine why people play the blame game and what we should be doing instead. So settle in and let's take an honest and clinical look at the strategies to avoid spiralling in to this unnecessary process.

If you enjoy this episode, check out http://www.smartmind.com for more information and check out our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ and keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Who are you playing for? It’s an age-old conundrum for elite and professional athletes.

“Do I change who I am and how I play to fit the mould of the selectors current criteria, OR do I back my own unique skills and become the player I know I can be?”

And the answer isn’t ‘immediately' that simple – surprisingly.

In this episode of Brain in the Game we will examine the pros and cons of each option and look at the skill development and performance sustainability model of growth: Consolidate – Construct – Implement. We will unpack a number of impacts on you as a performer and as an individual person when selecting to 'fit the mould' or to 'be you'.

Check out this episode of Brain in the Game, where I help rebalance this by showing key strategies in building a sustainable self belief.

So let's buckle in for this controversial topic and dive down the rabbit hole.

If you enjoy this episode then check out http://www.smartmind.com for more information and checkout our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ and keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Believe it or not, athletes –⁠ more than others –⁠ tend to suffer with low self-esteem and low self-belief. This sounds bizarre when you think just how cocky they can appear on the outside. That is, until you understand the 24/7 public scrutiny they are constantly under today, expected to always be “available”.

Beyond their sporting performance – where they are publicly judged, categorised and ranked – they are also open to constant assessment of their comments, their actions and their beliefs via social media. With the liberation of access to information the internet and social media bring, it also brings having to be “on” constantly.

This can increase then awareness of being inside the “fish bowl” and in athlete-mode 24 hours a day, and could manifest a warped view within an athlete, as they become more externally referenced and less self assured.

Check out this episode of Brain in the Game, where I help re-balance this by showing key strategies in building a sustainable self-belief.

If you enjoy this episode, check out http://www.smartmind.com for more information and our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ to keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Every athlete gets fatigued. Heck! We train hard, we push ourselves to the limits and beyond –⁠ so it’s no surprise we become physically fatigued.

However, there is a BIG difference between physical fatigue and mental fatigue. One is sore muscles and dwindling energy. The other can have a catastrophic impact on our ability to function, process and perform.

In this podcast we will explore four key strategies to avoid the slippery slope of mental fatigue.

So lets get back into the saddle and tackle this all too familiar nemesis of the elite athlete.