Optimising Human Performance

Optimising Human Performance

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Optimising Human Performance episodes

  • Professor Colin Espie; Mastering Sleep for High-Stakes Environments

    EPISODE 10: Mastering Sleep for High-Stakes Environments


    In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to Professor Colin Espie, a world-leading expert on sleep and treating sleep disorders, particularly using cognitive behavioural therapeutics (CBTI) to treat insomnia disorder. They discuss how sleep contributes to physical and mental health, the five principles of sleep health and the treatment options for insomnia. They debunk myths such as a 'sleepless elite’ & explore the intricate relationship between sleep, memory consolidation and trauma recovery.



    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Colin Espie is a professor of sleep medicine in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, where he founded the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine Research Program at the Sir Jules Thorne Sleep and Circadian Research Institute. He is also the Clinical Director of the Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine and has published over 300 scientific papers and several important books on the subject of sleep. Colin is also the co-founder of Big Health, which created Sleepio, a digital treatment for insomnia. 


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/


    Resources

    • Colin’s profile & contact info https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/team/colin-espie 
    • Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine https://www.scni.ox.ac.uk/study-with-us 
    • Sleepio – a digital treatment for insomnia https://www.bighealth.com/sleepio 
    • Colin’s books https://colinespie.com/author/ 
    • The 5 Principles of Sleep Health https://colinespie.com/sleep-resources/ 


    If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:42 Introducing Professor Colin Espie

    01:39 The Importance of Sleep in Mental Health

    04:15 Why Sleep is Crucial: Physiological and Cognitive Perspectives

    06:07 Sleep Deprivation and Its Consequences

    14:34 The Concept of the Sleepless Elite

    19:52 The Five Principles of Sleep Health

    27:16 The Importance of Sleep in Peak Performance

    28:14 Understanding Insomnia

    31:12 Treatment Options for Insomnia

    34:03 The Role of Alcohol in Sleep

    36:11 Sleep Banking and Deprivation Training

    43:15 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

    49:51 Final Thoughts on Sleep Health


    Up Next

    Next week, we’re taking a second deep dive into the science of sleep, this time with Professor Russell Foster, a world-leading expert on the mysterious phenomenon of circadian rhythms, which play a crucial role in optimal human performance.

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  • Martin Brennan & Emma Higginson-Smith; The Green Room

    EPISODE 9:  Maximizing Mental Fitness with Outdoor Wellbeing Coaching


    Martin and Jonpaul are joined by Emma Higginson-Smith and Martin Brennan from The Green Room, which provides outdoor well-being coaching, leadership, and organisational development to maximise mental fitness and prevent burnout. They discuss the importance of mental fitness and the role of wellbeing coaching and introduce the concept of the ‘green room’. 


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Martin Brennan was a police officer for 30 years and has represented UK Policing at the United Nations as an advisor to UN peacekeeping missions. He has led police teams during high-risk dynamic investigations. Today, he is an international expedition leader and an experienced outdoor wellbeing coach. 


    Emma Higginson-Smith is a high-impact behaviour change coach and consultant. She is committed to personal and organisational wellbeing & is passionate about human performance, health, nutrition and the benefits of the outdoors.


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/ 


    Resources


    If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for the latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    02:00 The Importance of Coaching

    04:48 Inspiration Behind The Green Room

    13:50 Understanding Mental Fitness

    15:51 Challenges in Promoting Mental Fitness

    20:21 Societal Stress and Mental Health

    25:56 The Fascination with the Outdoors

    26:31 Rediscovering the Inner Child

    29:03 The Benefits of Nature on Mental Health

    31:59 Personalizing Your Green Space

    38:27 The Importance of Mental Fitness

    41:28 The Future of The Green Room

    46:08 Final Thoughts and Contact Information



    Up Next

    Next week, Colin Espie, professor of sleep medicine at the University of Oxford, will join us. Colin is a world-leading expert on sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders, particularly the use of cognitive behavioural therapeutics to treat insomnia disorder.  


    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  • Dr Will Conkright; Feeding the Force - Tactical Nutrition

    EPISODE 8:  Feeding the Force: A Tactical Dietitian’s Guide to Optimal Health & Performance


    In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to tactical dietician Dr. Will Conkright about the role of a dietitian in the military and the challenges he faces. We dive into the basics of optimal nutrition and examine how people working in high-stress, high-stakes environments can leverage good nutritional habits to positively influence physical and cognitive performance, rest, recovery and sleep.

     

    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Dr Will Conkright is a registered dietitian and researcher with over 16 years of experience in clinical, academic and research settings. He primarily works with high-reliability populations, focusing on military operational stress, training and recovery. 


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/


    Resources

    • Operational Supplement Safety  https://www.opss.org/ 
    • Will’s email [email protected] 


    If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:42 Introducing Dr. Will Conkright

    01:35 Will's Background and Military Experience

    04:35 The Role of a Dietitian in the Military

    12:31 Fundamentals of Good Nutrition

    21:17 Challenges and Strategies in High-Stress Environments

    26:49 Holistic Health and Fitness in the U.S. Army

    30:06 Nutrition's Impact on Cognitive Performance and Sleep

    33:38 Supplements for Performance and Recovery

    40:15 Precision Performance Nutrition

    43:58 Future Trends in Nutrition


    Up Next

    Next week, we’ll be joined by The Green Room, to talk about mental fitness and how wellbeing coaching, leadership and organizational development can help maintain and improve it.  

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • Dr Preston Cline; Navigating Uncertainty

    EPISODE 7:  

    Navigating Uncertainty - Insights from Mission Critical Teams

    Martin and Jonpaul speak with Dr. Preston Cline, co-founder and principal of the Mission Critical Team Institute.  They discuss the characteristics of effective mission-critical teams, how to improve cohesion and facilitate within-career transitions, both into and out of these high-stress roles.


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Preston is the co-founder and principal at the Mission Critical Team Institute, where he also serves as the director of research. He co-founded the Mission Critical Team Institute to support the instructor cadres of small teams that compromise indigenously trained and educated experts who perform in high-pressure environments where the consequences of failure can be catastrophic. He has supported military special operations, emergency medicine, tactical law enforcement, aerospace, and urban and wilderness firefighting organizations.


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/


    Resources

    • MCTI Resources https://missioncti.com/resources/
    • MCTI Teamcast https://teamcast.missioncti.com 


    If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    01:57 Preston Cline's Background and Career Journey

    04:16 Defining Mission Critical Teams

    09:44 Characteristics of Successful Teams

    13:17 The Importance of Hardship and Adversity

    15:43 The Mission Critical Team Institute

    18:49 Navigating Uncertainty in High-Stress Environments

    27:30 Building Cohesion in Tactical Swarms

    30:14 The Importance of After Action Reviews

    32:50 Challenges with the Post-COVID Generation

    34:53 The Role of Introversion and Extroversion

    36:07 Training Environment and White Space

    40:01 Data Discipline and Technology Addiction

    42:50 Onboarding New Team Members

    46:44 Career Transitions and Mental Health


    Up Next

    Next week, we talk to tactical dietician Dr. Will Conkright about the role of a dietitian in the military. We will dive into the basics of optimal nutrition and examine how people working in high-stress, high-stakes environments can leverage good nutritional habits to positively influence physical and cognitive performance, rest, recovery, and sleep.

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  • Professor Daniel Gucciardi; Mental Toughness & Resilience

    EPISODE 6:  Resilience and Mental Toughness


    Martin Jones and Jonpaul are joined by human performance expert Professor Daniel Gucciardi to explore resilience as an emergent outcome in high-performance settings. 


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Daniel Gucciardi is a professor at Curtin University. He is a distinguished expert on stress, resilience and mental toughness and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles.  His research focuses on personal and contextual factors related to high performance, health behaviours and wellbeing in contexts such as sport, education and the workplace. 


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com


    Resources

    • http://www.danielgucciardi.com.au/ 
    • https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/daniel-gucciardi-678a620f/


    If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit WavellRoom.com for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:42 Guest Introduction: Professor Daniel Gucciardi

    03:42 Defining Resilience

    07:54 Exploring Mental Toughness

    13:45 Measuring Resilience

    24:35 Reflection Techniques

    30:50 Team Resilience

    33:12 Future Research and Final Thoughts


    Up Next

    Next week…Dr. Preston Cline, co-founder of the Mission Critical Institute, joins us to discuss the characteristics of effective mission-critical teams, and how to improve cohesion & facilitate career transitions in high-stress roles. 

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  • Dr Rob Orr; Tactical Physical Training for Peak Performance

    EPISODE 5: Optimising Tactical Physical Training for Peak Performance


    In this episode, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by Professor Rob Orr, director of the Tactical Research Unit at Bond University. They discuss optimising training for physically demanding tasks as well as sedentary working, the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive performance, and the value of an individualised approach to training. 


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Professor Rob Orr served in the Australian Army for over 20 years as an infantry soldier, physical training instructor, uniformed physiotherapist and human performance officer. In his role at the Tactical Research Unit at Bond University, Rob provides research, consultancy and educational services for law enforcement, military and firefighters across five continents. With more than 300 published research papers and technical reports on tactical populations, Rob focuses on providing pragmatic research evidence to the tactical community.


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/ 


    Resources

    • https://tru.bond.edu.au 
    • [email protected] (email)
    • facebook.com/TacticalResearchUnit
    • linkedin.com/in/rob-orr-41075870


    If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:42 Rob’s Background

    05:11 Defining the Tactical Athlete

    07:44 Optimising Load Carriage Performance

    09:54 Training Strategies for Tactical Personnel

    13:00 Challenges in Tactical Training Programs

    18:28 Physical and Cognitive Demands of Tactical Roles

    24:00 Principles of Effective Training

    25:34 Specificity and Home Field Advantage

    26:50 Aging and Fitness Decline

    29:26 Challenges of Modern Recruits

    35:33 Biological Differences in Fitness

    39:44 Body Armor and Equipment Design

    44:33 Final Thoughts and Advice


    Up Next

    Next week, we welcome eminent scientist Professor Daniel Guicciardi. Dan is a distinguished expert on stress, resilience and mental toughness. In our discussion, we scrutinise resilience - the personal factors that aid it, how it applies to teams and the practical strategies that can help people improve it.

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • Dr Thomas Curran; The Perfection Trap

    EPISODE 4:  The Perfection Trap


    This week, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by Dr Thomas Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. They break down perfectionism to understand what it really is and  challenge some of the myths that link perfectionism with high performance.  How we can prevent perfectionism from hindering our health, wellbeing, productivity and performance?


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Dr Thomas Curran is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics. He's a world-leading expert on perfectionism whose work has been featured in Time magazine, the Harvard Business Review, New Scientist, and the Times of London, to mention just a few. In 2018, he gave a Tedmed talk that’s well worth a watch, entitled ‘Our Dangerous Obsession With Perfectionism is Getting Worse’, and just last year, he published his debut book, ‘The Perfection Trap’.  


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com 


    Resources

    • Find Tom on Linkedin https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thom-curran 
    • ‘The Perfection Trap’ by Thomas Curran  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1847943861/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr= 
    • Tom’s TED talk

    https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_curran_our_dangerous_obsession_with_perfectionism_is_getting_worse?language=en 

    • ‘Connected’ by John Spencer.


    If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 


    Chapters 

    01:25 Introducing Tom

    04:07 Perfectionism and its Impact

    08:04 The Influence of Social Media and Secularization

    11:25 The Experience of Perfectionism

    12:48 Perfectionism and Mood Disorders

    20:48 Debunking the Notion of Healthy Perfectionism

    24:09 Perfectionism in Covert Environments

    26:00 Different Types of Perfectionism

    26:42 Other-Oriented Perfectionism

    33:25 Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety

    37:41 The STOP 5 Model for Reflection and Learning

    40:01 Perfectionists and Withholding Effort

    52:25 Reframing Perfectionism as a Hindrance


    Up Next

    Join us for an eye-opening discussion with Professor Rob Orr, director of the Tactical Research Unit at Bond University. We discuss the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive performance and uncover the value of an individualized approach to training.








    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  • Tim Jacques; Leadership & Wellbeing Insights from a Policing Career

    EPISODE 3

    Leadership and Wellbeing: Lessons and Insights from a Policing Career


    In this episode, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by Tim Jacques - former Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the UK’s Counterterrorism Policing HQ. They discuss health and wellbeing in high-stress positions and the role of senior leaders in optimising wellbeing and performance.


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Tim Jacques retired in February 2024 after 37 years in policing. He completed his service as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner in UK Counter Terrorism's Policing Headquarters based in New Scotland Yard.  Counter Terrorism Policing is an 8,000 people strong collaboration of UK Police Forces who work with the United Kingdom's Intelligence Agencies, His Majesty's Government, the Ministry of Defence and other partners to counter the threat to UK interests from all forms of terrorism. Tim had strategic responsibility for all counterterrorism policing Prevent and Pursue activities.  


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/


    Resources

    • Tim on Linkedin https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tim-jacques-50104423 
    • The National Police Wellbeing Service https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk
    • Viktor Frankl ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’
    • Martin Seligman ‘Flourish’
    • Alan Cohen ‘Radical Contentment: The Power of Enough’


    If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit wavell room for the latest articles, podcasts & newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:42 Introducing Tim Jacques: A Policing Career in Review

    01:09 The Importance of Well-being in High-Stress Roles

    05:09 Understanding Human Performance in Policing

    08:02 The Evolution of the Oscar Kilo Program

    18:35 Strategies for Personal Well-being and Performance

    29:58 Advice for Leaders on Fostering Wellbeing

    32:25 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Tim


    Up Next

    Look out for our next episode with Dr Thomas Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. We challenge some of the myths that link perfectionism with high performance and discuss how we can prevent perfectionism from hindering our health, wellbeing, productivity and performance. 

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  • Dr Jutta Tobias-Mortlock; Next Generation Mindfulness


    EPISODE 2: Next Generation Mindfulness: the New Frontier for Peak Performance


    In this episode, Martin & Jonpaul are joined by social psychologist Dr Jutta Tobias-Mortlock to discuss the role that mindfulness training can play in high-performance settings. 


    Guest, Cast & Crew

    Jutta Tobias-Mortlock is a reader in organisational psychology at City University and is the co-director of its Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research. 


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/

    Resources

    • Jutta’s contact https://www.city.ac.uk/about/people/academics/jutta-tobias-mortlock# 
    • Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research www.mindfulness-science.com 
    • Ellen Langer https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/ellen-langer 
    • Viktor Frankl ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’


    If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 


    Chapters

    00:41 Mindfulness in High Performance

    02:29 The Essence and Evolution of Mindfulness

    05:44 Mindfulness as a Tool for Engagement and Decision-Making

    06:32 Challenging Traditional Mindfulness Programs in High-Performance Settings

    10:24 Practical Applications of Mindfulness in High-Stress Environments

    17:34 The Limitations of Commercial Mindfulness Programs

    23:04 The Story of the Honey Badgers

    26:02 Exploring Team Mindfulness Training

    28:37 NextGen Mindfulness

    35:51 Challenges and Strategies in Mindful Organizing

    39:54 The Journey Towards Mindful Organizations

    48:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions


    Up Next

    Keep an eye out for our upcoming episode featuring Tim Jacques, former Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the UK’s Counterterrorism Policing HQ. We'll have a fascinating discussion about health and well-being in high-stress positions, and the role of senior leaders in optimising well-being and performance.

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  • Professor Michael Matthews; The Role of Psychology in Human Performance Optimization

    EPISODE 1: The Role of Psychology in Human Performance Optimization


    This week, Martin & Jonpaul talk to eminent psychologist Professor Michael Matthews. Mike shares insights from his extensive career across a wide-range of topics including the importance of non-cognitive factors such as grit, developing character traits and the role of organisational culture. 


    Guest, Cast & Crew


    Michael Matthews is professor of engineering psychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has authored over 250 scientific papers and is the co-editor of several leading texts. 


    Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk

    Edited by Bess Manley

    Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/


    Resources


    ·      Mike’s email [email protected]

    ·      Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb

    ·      Human Performance Optimization: The Science and Ethics of Enhancing Human Capabilitieshttps://academic.oup.com/book/1587

    ·      Headstrong: How Psychology is Revolutionizing War https://academic.oup.com/book/36963


    If you're enjoying this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. And remember to visit WavellRoom.com for their latest articles, podcasts and newsletters. 


    Chapters


    00:42 Introducing Professor Michael Matthews

    03:29 Prof Matthews' Journey: From Police Officer to leading Psychologist

    07:33 Exploring Non-Cognitive Factors 

    10:32 The Grit Factor

    17:45 Character Development and Organizational Culture

    22:38 The Crucial Role of Character in Leadership

    25:24 The Pitfalls of Short-Term Wins Over Long-Term Success

    27:20 The Multidisciplinary Nature of Human Performance Optimization

    28:09 The 'Shiny Object Syndrome'

    31:38 The Psychological Warfare of Modern Conflicts

    35:43 The Weaponization of Social Media in Warfare

    39:33 Improving Situational Awareness and Counteracting Misinformation

    43:23 Closing Thoughts


    Up Next


    Our next episode will be released on 20th May, when our guest is social psychologist Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock. We discuss the role that mindfulness training can play in high-performance settings.

    Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

    This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

    For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:

    www.ophp.co.uk

    Connect with us:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/

    Instagram: @ophumanperformance

    If you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

About Optimising Human Performance

From the publisher's feed

Optimising Human Performance is the podcast for people who can’t afford to fail. If you work in the military, defence and security, emergency services, first response, elite sport, or any other…

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