Supporting Champions

Dan Bigham is an athlete of the highest order, principally in the disciplines of individual and team pursuit with multiple national and World cup titles. Recently Dan is taking a pop at Bradley Wiggins’ hour record too. But Dan has achieved this level of performance with a band of brothers who congregated together and plied their collective physical talents with a mindset of simply trying to ‘work performance out’. Dan is an engineer by training and spent numerous years working in motorsports and sports analytics using his big brain and curiosity to ask questions, explore, be willing to go off script in the pursuit of performance. Dan’s recent book Start at the End, tells the story of how he led this team to success using the principles of reverse-engineering. And while you’ll hear Dan get into the technical details of aerodynamics etc, you’ll also hear how this attitude has spilled or you could say has been applied to all aspects of personal and team performance too.  

Notes

Early introduction to a range of sports

Cycling interests increase and coincide with business development of Team KGS

Team Derbados!!!!

The closing of systems after initial success

Creating loss, fail at competition or training, questions decisions

Don’t be annoying

Marginal gains and not stretching too thinly

Separating the results from the process

Open conversations and feedback sheets shared with everyone clarity over metrics and selection 

Dan’s lesson on team organisation /dynamics: listening, decision making, attitude etc

Links

You can follow Dan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/DanBiggles22

Start at the end book 

https://www.shopforwatts.co.uk/products/start-at-the-end-book

You can get bonus content from me at Youtube, take a look at the link in the show notes - 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A

On Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent are as successful a sporting duo as you’ll ever meet. Steve has won 5 gold medals at 5 successive games and is a 9 time world champion, Matt has won 4 Olympic golds and 10 world championships. 

They were successful before Britain became good at sport, winning before the UK Olympic system grew sophisticated. But not just the occasional win - sustained and dominant winning.

I had the privilege of working with Steve and Matt from 1998, supporting them, along with Tim Foster and James Cracknell to the Sydney Olympics. I can’t tell you how much influence they both had on me as a professional sports scientist and as a person. Their focus, standards, intensity, but also thinking, understanding and at times philosophy was so impressive you couldn’t help but learn from it.

You’ll hear that though in this conversation, which was surprising, fun and at times emotional.

Notes

Tokyo delays how would they have responded?

‘Just what we wanted’ & ‘Control the controllables’

A hairline crack in the rig puts a race in jeopardy

Are you feeling nervous yet? Changing the conversation

The step up from Barcelona to Atlanta the pressure changed hugely

Steve’s infamous quote and the pressure of build up

It wasn’t a long retirement!

The challenges that Steve felt in returning to rowing, both physically & mentally

The way in which Matt & Steve supported each other, the deep level of understanding

What are Matt & Steve’s reflections on pursuing a goal pushing and driving but doing it well?

Links

https://twitter.com/matthewcpinsent

https://twitter.com/SteveRedgrave5

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

In this week’s conversation I speak to Martin Buchheitt and George Perry authors of their upcoming book “Egoals” (a blend of Ego and goals), the subtitle being, “Exercising your ego in high-performance environments”. Martin has been a real leader in applied sports science and research particularly in team sports and George is a track coach and writer based in the US. They’ve teamed up to explore the notion of how we manage, utilise and harness our sense of self, identity and achievement in roles which are inherently in support of others achieving. They have done this with a powerful collection of interviews and reflections from support staff from around the world with an accumulated experience level of over 2000 years.

Their writing and reflections resonated deeply with me and yet the conversation challenged me. There is an urge for us to be a little bolder with the experiences and insights we need to find ways not to get ahead of ourselves. There is a balance to be had, a tightrope, almost a dil for which we have to find a better way to manage. Martin and George’s exploration of ego is a valuable contribution to our craft.

Follow Martin on Twitter

https://twitter.com/mart1buch

Take a look at the book 

https://egoalsbook.com/

http://instagram.com/egoalsbook

NEW SUPPORTING CHAMPIONS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W3kvAsvtDDsEayex-1i5A

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

This week I spoke to Mike Hughes. Mike is a Performance Analyst, having worked with some of the best teams in the world and developed them by providing understanding and insight based on deconstructing and exploring phenomena in training and performance. Mike and I worked alongside each other at the English institute of Sport, though on different teams, Mike worked with British cycling in the years that it went from mediocre to utterly dominant. He’s worked at Insight Analysis where he was assigned to the England Rugby team where you may have seen him alongside the England coaching team where Mike was beavering away crunching numbers on hand to feed directly to the coaches.

Performance Analysis has risen in prominence in the last few decades - nearly every top operation has analysts as a central part of their backroom teams. What is interesting about the discussion with Mike though is that he creates the case that insight is all very well but if you haven’t got the relationship with the coaches and leaders to have that conversation that could necessitate change, (perhaps sometimes against their preferred way of working), then analysis stays as just that - an unused data point.

At the very heart of Performance Analysis is the saying “Why guess, when you could know?” - but as Mike illustrates a deeper question is - “Now you know what needs to be different, but do you know how to make difference?”

Happy listening

Notes

Performance analysis in the blood - Mike Hughes son of Prof Mike Hughes!

The differing eras of PA advancement

Current PA set up for teams 

The importance of coaching intuition and marrying with PA

Mike’s example of making a difference via PA

Simulating differing environments, referees and preferences

Red Zone Analysis

Links

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Mandy Hickson on jet fighter pilot performance

This week I spoke to Mandy Hickson. Mandy is a fighter pilot, having joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and flew the Tornado GR4 on the front line, where she operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq.

I was fascinated to discuss with Mandy about the physical and mental challenges of training to become a top fighter pilot. I was particularly interested how pilot’s like Mandy improve, what are the stages of progression to go from small craft, to faster and more manoeuvrable craft, and then to train in such a way that you’re ready to operate and perform in a combat zone, where the stakes are as high as they get.

The conversation is so rich with insight, where Mandy unpacks a number of situations, scenarios and seriously pressured circumstances with powerful detail and shares a number of useful frameworks that helped her to manage the fears and doubts but then rise to the top. She shares her insights with a combination of breeziness, fun, care and a level of wisdom that comes from profound experience.

Oh and there’s another detail that’s pretty obvious but in many ways is irrelevant and relevant as you’ll hear in this discussion. She’s a woman who got to the top in a male dominated field. And while that might not matter to some, as a role model to other people aspiring to do something against the odds, she’s an inspiration.

Notes

Types of jets and craft Mandy has flown in the RAF

Training takes time 

Grey out, G-Force and the G-suits required to be worn and the pressure of G-Force

Situational awareness and the bigger picture

Notice, understand and think ahead - NUTA

Getting your head out of the detail

Debriefing and best practice

Everyone hates feedback but give me a BOOST - balanced, observed, objective, specific and timely

DODAR Diagnose share with the team, what do you think?, options - what would you do?, option generation leading to the decision by the leader, Assign task and review (or give me a reason not to) 

Being a female fighter pilot

Making better quality decisions and creating a solutions based culture, the ‘Just Culture’

Links

Follow Mandy

https://twitter.com/MandyHickson

https://hicksonltd.com/

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

This week I spoke to Steph Houghton.

Steph is the England Football Captain, having played for her country over 120 times. Steph has seen the women’s game evolve from amateur days, to the rise in popularity of the game in Britain and around the world, to the Women’s Super League and now the women’s game selling out stadia. During this time Steph has also had to evolve, adapt & respond to growing pressures of playing for her country, taking on the captaincy, World Cup finals successes and disappointments, becoming a household name and leading others. The conversation with Steph was interesting because she had this quiet resolve, this inner steel, almost stoicism all in service of trying to be the best she can and to take the opportunities in front of her.

I felt there was no facade about Steph - just genuine, values driven commitment to her craft and profession - all while honouring the role and responsibility she recognises she now holds - and that is as a role-model for the people she plays with, the game and a community of people looking up to her.

Notes

Recovery from an achilles injury and learning to take time after experience of multiple injuries

Opportunities for female players now and the changes in the last decade

Hoping to inspire a generation

What are the values Steph holds close

England captain at 26! 

Breathing exercises are a no go for Steph but she is seeing the benefits of pilates mentally and physically

Difficult conversations

Managing 20-21 games and the uncertainty for athletes

The Olympics and preparation

The World Cup in 2023

Links

Follow Steph on Twitter and Instagram  https://twitter.com/stephhoughton2

https://www.instagram.com/stephhoughton2/

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

This week’s guest is Cody Royle. Cody is the head coach of Australian Football League Team Canada, the men's national program for Australian Rules football. Cody is also an author and I would say fast becoming recognised as a pioneering voice about a topic that previously just hasn’t been communicated - that is the reality of being a head coach. In his recent book, The Tough Stuff, he explores the challenges of coaching in elite sport, but specifically the dynamics and perspectives, the difficulties and the pressures of being a HEAD coach. He ratifies his own feelings, in conversation with a series of top coaches too, such as Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons) and Stuart Lancaster (England Rugby), to name a few.

I can’t stress enough just how important this step change is in communicating the demands on coaches. There is a disproportionate and unwarranted expectation, storm of opinion and lack of support and empathy for the head coach. It is Cody’s petition that we all need to do better.

To give you a flavour of the book chapter titles which we delve into and build the conversation around, Your fiercest rival is yourself, you’re not a coach, Tactics don’t matter, Chapter 1 - everyone thinks you’re an idiot - and that’s where I start this conversation.

If anyone wants to work in or learn from high performance sport - I compel you to listen to what Cody has to say.

WIN A FREE COPY OF CODY'S BOOK

We have two copies of Cody's book, The Tough Stuff to give away. Simply give an honest review of the podcast on iTunes (only new reviews accepted), take a screenshot of the review and email it to [email protected], by 31st May at 12 noon. Two reviewers chosen at random will receive a copy in the post. It could be one of the most worthwhile screenshots you take this year!

Enjoy the listen!

Notes on what we discuss

The Tough Stuff - ‘Everyone thinks you’re an idiot’

If we’re all performers why aren’t the coaches seen as performers?

The catalyst of the book

Coaches and the importance of self-care

Get. Some. Sleep!

Translating skills from assistant coach where the pressure’s off to head coach 

The brethren of understanding

Support structure for coaches      

You’re not a coach - being detached from our real identity

Changing the dialogue for mutual benefit

Follow Cody on Twitter https://twitter.com/codyroyle

The Tough Stuff on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tough-Stuff-Seven-Truths-About/dp/1660114446/

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

David Martin is a leading light in applied sports science. He was senior physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport, where along with a number of brilliant minds, pioneered the application of science to elite performance. During the 1990s, as I was grappling with some fundamentals, David was breaking new ground and frankly doing work that the world hadn’t seen before. Their work was the benchmark of excellence that we looked to.

In this conversation David and I reflect on our parallel universes, how they drove us, how we in the UK system came to catch and overtake them, and in all likelihood, though some would deny it, then served as the benchmark for the Australian system. David then went onto work at the NBA at the Philadelphia 76ers, an experience and a professional set up that is worth comparing to the national systems we both cut our teeth in.

What I truly value when talking to David is piercing insight by that I mean raw intelligence, powerful communication skills, honesty, reflection, all informed by experience of working at the coal face.

Show Notes

The Jane Goodall Lecture 

David’s analogies in comparison to Jane Goodall’s experiences

Growing with the team and gathering momentum - the dangers

Learn to step back

Athlete beliefs and scientist beliefs - the interactions

David’s zoology training

The Apex predators and the consequences of extinction

The switch in funding for practitioners

Changing and switching things up after a home games

David’s observations since moving into professional sports

David’s goals going forward

Links

Follow David on Twitter https://twitter.com/davidtmartin

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

This week I speak to Kevin Dutton Professor of Psychology at Oxford University, who specialises in psychopaths. Kevin has written several books on the topic, for example The Wisdom of Psychopaths, Flipnosis, The Good Psychopaths Guide to Success and his recent book, Black and White Thinking all of which are illuminating because they unveil a world that is for many of us so alien, so peculiar, so grotesque, yet so close, so relevant and in some cases so familiar.

Because as Kevin explains, many of the characteristics that we associate with malice, danger and evil - if dialled differently are definitely determinants of personal success. 

This was such a fascinating conversation not least because Kevin turns his evaluation measure onto me to find out if I have psychopathic tendencies with interesting results, somewhat surprising.

If you grab a piece of paper you can take the test along with me.

Notes

Steve and Kevin chat about why Kevin’s jaw hurt after a VO2max test?

Are you allowed to be not as tough as you used to be

Steve’s dislike of glib sport commentary

What are the three components for success in all works of life

What are the messages you are sending out to other people and more importantly yourself

The psychopathic mindset

You need the right mind for the right context

The taxi driver bias

Dissociation in performance

Is Steve a psychopath...he takes Kevin’s test 

Distilling DNA of being successful - the ability to do what you have to when you don’t want 

Jumpers versus splashers

The use of metaphor

Mantras

Yes to less

Disruptive team members

The psychology of teams

Links

There’s still time to sign up to our Applied Pro Practitioner Skills Courses to develop your impact and skills!

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/

Check out Kevin’s books, The Wisdom of Psychopaths, Flipnosis, The Good Psychopaths Guide to Success and his recent book, Black and White Thinking.

Kevin Dutton on Twitter https://twitter.com/therealdrkev

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

This week’s guest is Chris Thompson, who at the age of 39 has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic marathon for Team GB. 'Thommo' as he is known didn’t suddenly spring to the top in a freak qualification, he has been knocking on the door for 20 years , keeping going, persisting, persevering, through a career full of challenges. Thommo crossed the line a Kew Garden’s in the qualification event with an outpouring of emotion, celebration and joy and in response the athletics community. Not only has Thommo been on the scene, numerous teams, flights, training camps, competitions with so many athletes over the years - but he is one of those people that just adds life into groups and this, I’m certain, is part of reason why there has been this response.

To cap it all off, in the same week that Thommo made the plane to Tokyo his wife Jemma Simpson, now Jemma Thompson had their first child, a young boy Theo. Now if any of you have children, you’ll remember the whirlwind of a child entering your life. 

It was great fun catching up with Thommo, moving at times, and a reminder about the cost and the meaning of pursuing personal goals.

In this conversation we explore;

• Enjoying the moment

Links

Follow thommo on twitter https://twitter.com/Thommo10k

https://www.instagram.com/thommo26.2

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on;

Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions

Take a look at our Applied Pro Practitioner Skills Courses to develop your impact and skills

https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/