076: Mark Williams on how the best learn to be better

This week’s guest is Professor Mark Williams who has spent his professional career understanding the neural and psychological aspects of acquiring skills and developing expertise. Mark has recently published a fascinating book called “The Best”. The subtitle of the book captures your attention though, “How elite athlete are made”. Now you might starting jumping to conclusions that the book tends towards the nurture side of nature vs nurture, but you’d be mistaken. Mark and his co-author Tim Wigmore weave a narrative from the social, economic, environmental and family factors that contribute to success. And in this discussion I explore many of these concepts but ask Mark given that we have a certain set of cards dealt to us, what can we do as athletes, coaches, parents and supporting members of the cast to enable others to succeed, enable others to grow especially during a disruptive pandemic.

Enjoy the pod.

Notes

Does Mark constantly analyse performance and expertise?

What is expertise?

Sibling advantage

Maintaining an optimal learning environment in lockdown

Using time in lockdown wisely to hone our weaknesses

The differences between performance and learning, variations in briefing levels of challenge and reflection

Helicopter parenting

How to enable athletes to live a life well outside of sport

Personal effectiveness and developing successful teams

The joint curation of group rules, norms and behaviours, enables the agreed consequences of breaking the group agreements

Links

Take a look at Mark’s new book, ‘The best; How elite athletes are made’.

https://www.markwilliamssportsscience.com/

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