Summary:

In this episode, Chris Dossett reflects on a simple but powerful idea: striving to be a competitor rather than simply chasing the label of a winner. Drawing on his experience as a Director of Sport and Chair of PADSIS, Chris explores how creating environments where young people are encouraged to compete, grow, and enjoy the process ultimately leads to better long-term outcomes than an obsession with results alone. The conversation examines the role of competition in education, the value of resilience, and why focusing on becoming the best version of yourself is a philosophy that extends far beyond sport.

Key Topics:

• The difference between being a competitor and being a winner
• Creating sporting environments that prioritise growth and enjoyment
• What competition teaches young people beyond results
• Lessons from elite sport that apply to education and leadership
• Why long-term development matters more than short-term success

Key Takeaways:

• A competitor mindset is available to everyone, regardless of the outcome.
• Sustainable development comes from focusing on growth rather than simply winning.
• Sport provides valuable lessons in resilience, perspective, and continuous improvement.
• The environments we create have a lasting impact on how young people approach challenge, success, and failure.

Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdossett/
• [email protected]

In this first minisode, Ryan Blake explores a common but often overlooked challenge facing high performers: appearing successful externally while becoming increasingly unstable internally.He examines why performance capability and performance stability are not the same thing, and how leaders, athletes, and high performers can unknowingly accumulate pressure until decision quality, energy, and effectiveness begin to deteriorate. Ryan shares practical insights on identifying early warning signs, reducing unnecessary load, and strengthening the systems that support sustainable performance under pressure.

Key Topics:

• The difference between performance capability and performance stability
• Why external success can mask internal pressure accumulation
• Early warning signs that performance systems are becoming unstable
• Reducing decision load to improve clarity and control
• The role of recovery in sustaining performance under pressure

Key Takeaways:

• High performance does not automatically mean high stability.
• Internal pressure often accumulates long before visible performance declines.
• Small vulnerabilities can become significant performance risks if left unchecked.
• Reducing complexity and protecting recovery improves decision quality.
• Early intervention is easier than rebuilding after performance deteriorates.

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to David Balcombe about the crossover from professional sport to executive leadership!

Things discussed included:
- Performance environments 
- Transferable performance systems 
- Identity and transition 
- Decision quality under pressure 
- Authority influence
- Performance sustainability 
- Coaching leaders coaching athletes 
- Hidden costs of performance

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-balcombe-306b8868/

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Stuart Barnes about Leadership In High-Pressure Environments!

Things discussed included:
- Why inconsistency quietly erodes trust inside teams
- The link between authenticity and behavioural stability under pressure
- What happens when leaders take on too much responsibility
- How authority is reinforced when scrutiny intensifies
- The emotional and identity cost of leadership failure

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartnbarnes/

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Si Nicholson about military leadership & sports coaching!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on Si's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset, wellbeing & leadership to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.instagram.com/coachnicholson

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Gwyn Page about leadership in school sports environments!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on Gwyn's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider wellbeing to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider lifestyle to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwyn-page-69806954

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Ross Chisholm about the role of leadership in elite rugby!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on Ross's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider wellbeing to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider lifestyle to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.quins.co.uk/team/womens-team

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Tris Parris about the nebulous concept of leadership!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on Tris's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider wellbeing to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider lifestyle to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-parris-32775116b/

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to John Black about the role of leadership in elite tennis!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on John's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider wellbeing to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider lifestyle to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-black-4b45bb107/

In this episode Ryan Blake talks to Nigel Briers about the multifaceted nature of leadership!

Things discussed included:
- Brief introduction on Nigel's professional background & experience
- What leadership means to him
- Best example of leadership he has come across
- What the cost of bad leadership can be
- What part does he consider mindset to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider wellbeing to play in leadership & why
- What part does he consider lifestyle to play in leadership & why
- His key piece of take advice to make someone a better leader in the sports industry

Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-briers-9a921242/