Mental Health for Performance

“Sometimes leaders think that they should make all the decisions and that that’s what leading is. And when you do that the message that you give is 'I need to make the decisions because I’m better than you are.' And that’s horrible.  But when you empower people and GIVE them the opportunity and teach them, and don’t throw them to the wolves but allow them to start making decisions progressively and involve them, that is saying 'What you think matters and you are capable of doing this.' And that conveys respect and that conveys trust.” – Gloria Balague

And who is Gloria Balague? She is a Clinical Associate Professor Emerita in Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She grew up in Spain and is back living there now, in retirement, after a lifetime of work in the USA. Gloria worked as sports psychologist for the Chicago Bears from 2015-2020 – she has worked extensively with USA Track and Field, USA Gymnastics and USA Field Hockey. She was at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics as a sport psychologist and the list goes on and on for her.

Throughout her journey, she has been asked time and time again to join organizations because they just knew that they needed her. If you are a leader of any kind – listen to Gloria and go back to the people you lead and be better than you were when you came.

“I get up every day just wanting to make a difference and help people become successful.”

-  Barry Jansen

That’s just one of the many things that Barry Jansen could not contain when I had the pleasure of chatting with him. So, we figured we would give him yet another opportunity. Barry started “Jansen HR” to work with leaders and coaches and in turn, help them work with their “teams”. So, if you are looking to be successful in leading your own place of work, home or play – you need to listen to this podcast.

Barry makes it very clear that anybody can be a boss. That’s easy. Being a leader? That is hard. And is leadership telling people what to do or is it having people come along WITH you?  Hear how Barry defines it and helps others find success in it, in this episode of the “Mental Health for Performance” podcast, brought to you by Pinnacle.

Jessica Vliegenthart is a World Champion in the sport of wheelchair basketball, a Paralympian, 2-time Canadian Champion and a 2-time Pan Am Games silver medalist. Jessica is also a lawyer, a wife, and a mother!

After a life-changing accident left her paralyzed from the waist down she accomplished all of the above with sheer determination. When anyone told her she couldn’t or shouldn’t… she simply did! There were times when she wanted to give up, and a great leader convinced her to push on in a new way. Now she is an influential leader in her own right, and she shares her insights on what causes people to want to give up or to push on.

Hear about how a life-changing accident creates challenges from every angle and an honest description of how mental health affects absolutely every aspect of life. Jessica has used her experience to serve others and positively influence her community and everyone around her. We all have something to learn from this honest and inspiring conversation.

Today’s “Mental Health for Performance” guest is Teri Dennis-Davies, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Now, I know, that’s quite the title… but when you listen you will hear an incredibly strong, intelligent, thoughtful and warm woman, who is not only concerned with success and performing well – but also BEING well while doing it. Teri has a passion for those who are led by her, to be able to be the best they can be and has implemented some tools and strategies to work towards making that a reality.

If you’d like to hear what they are and perhaps implement them for yourself, listen, and you will be motivated to strive to give everyone in your organization the opportunity to get to the same start line – true equity.

The journey toward this continues every day and we think listening to Teri is a big step toward helping us all achieve it. Thank you to Pinnacle for bringing this episode to us all. Enjoy.

If you’re here, you’re likely in the business of performing and achieving, or striving to be.  This episode’s guest knows all about that.  Peter Davis works with some of the biggest sport organizations in the world - Olympic teams, Olympic committees, professional sport leagues and more.  He was one of the original senior consultants with “Own the Podium” in Canada, and is now a Managing Partner at Apex Global Sport Group.  Peter helps organizations create successful outcomes in sport and other contexts around the globe.

How does he do it?  What is the Apex365 Model, and how does it work?  Hear Peter Davis, PhD, share insights into how he has helped organizations from local to national, from disorganized to high-functioning, level up their game, perform better and achieve their goals.

This “Mental Health for Performance” podcast is brought to you by Pinnacle.

The “Mental Health for Performance” podcast is all about how we create environments where people thrive, achieve and want to stay, and we’re not only talking about sport environments. We’re talking about the workplace, your home… really, ANY place you find yourself.

Gene Muller, Director of Athletics and Recreation at the University of Manitoba understands high level performance in both sport and business, and how it can challenge our mental health and wellness. He is passionate about ideas and creating environments where ideas, even the ones that aren’t utilized are accepted and needed to collectively get to the very best one.

Gene says:

“I want to promote relational harmony, but with tension around what we are achieving and how we’re going to achieve it.”

“I think the top players have and exude a sense of ease in high pressure situations.”

“I think we need to be braver and less concerned with the impact of failure.”

“Environments that develop people are filled with a certain type of tension, challenging yet attainable tasks, and an overall mood of acceptance of growth and learning.”

The quotes just keep coming with Gene.  Listen and see which ideas inspire you.  You may have to listen again and again to take it all in.  Discover how you and the people you lead can thrive in whatever situation comes your way.

“When things are in balance in your life, you start to perform better, you start to feel better, you can visualize better. And one of the things we thought is, ‘Hey, let’s incorporate all the different parts of life that are important to us and allow us to connect’ and that’s what Zueike to us, means.”

And that’s just one of the many gems Ogo Okwumabua, co-owner of Zueike, shared in his conversation with us in this episode of “Mental Health for Performance”.

We are excited to share another story that will be a resource for you to take back to your workplace and share with those you work with.  Success is about more than JUST the product or the profit… it’s the people you work with that want to be seen, heard and found.

Ogo has that figured out!  Listen to hear his story.  Hear how truly caring for his team has driven performance.  Learn from someone who is doing business in a deliberately new way that we can all learn from.

When you hear the name “Sheldon Kennedy” there’s a good chance you know who he is. There’s a good chance you know what his story is about. But did you know that for Sheldon, after decades of sharing the story of the sexual abuse that he endured at the hands of his junior hockey coach Graham James, his purpose for sharing the story has changed. In the early days, it was really, just about “Sheldon’s story” and trying to get people to understand what happened – but that shifted from just telling the story to talking about all the things that could be done to make life better for others. Better for those who had experienced the same thing and better for those who lead, who want to create environments where this DOESN’T happen.

THAT’S what you’re going to learn when you listen. Sheldon is going to help us all learn how to foster safe environments, not only in sport but at home, in school, and in the workplace. Mental Health for Performance – it’s the only way – and Sheldon has certainly journeyed through some dark places to be able to share with an authenticity like no other. He is so willing to share his story – so take a listen.