Talking Toughness

In this pair of Podcasts, we welcome a very special guest in Dr Maria Katsarou-Makin. Maria is the founder of the Leadership Psychology Institute where she brings together her deep knowledge of leadership and all that this implies together with 20 years of practical experience working with leaders and leadership teams to create an approach which really does help those who are in leadership roles and who aspire to leadership roles.

All this is supported by her complementary interest in psychology and in executive coaching.

Her work is rooted in an evidence-based approach - something we have noted in her dealings with us and which we very much admire. We are delighted that she has joined us to share her expertise and experience with you and us.

In part one, we explore Maria's interest in Leadership which started in her childhood whilst watching her father setting up, developing, and growing a thriving business based in Nigeria.

Reflecting the diverse cultural contexts in which Maria has worked and her personal experiences of leaders, good and bad, Maria suggests that leadership can be understood as a dynamic interplay between leaders, followers, and the situational backdrop.

While leadership can be influenced by cultural norms, it also possesses the power to reshape those very norms, making it a complex yet essential aspect of societal development.

We will also explore the notion of where the leader's intrinsic motivation comes from, how purpose provides the fuel, and how a leader's intrinsic motivation can be critical in fostering an environment where empathy and compassion thrive, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness and impact of leadership in any context.

Listen, learn and enjoy this thoughtful conversation.

Part Three of our Talking Toughness Best Bits 2024 is now live on all major podcasting sites. This episode features clips from Jason Wyatt, Adrian Green, Anthony Taylor, Dave Otter, Craig Hammer, Sara Ireland, Jim Loehr, John Mark Williams, Sylwia Rybak, and Sam Sloan.

In the 2024 series of the Talking Toughness podcast, we've had the privilege of engaging with true authorities in their fields such as Dr. Jim Loehr and Professor David Clutterbuck, to explore the evolution of human performance and organisational development.

Through these conversations with experienced coaches and professionals, we've explored the future landscape of personal, team and organisational growth, including pondering how AI will ultimately impact on our work.

We appreciate your feedback, your support and look forward to continuing this journey with you into 2025!

Evolution is about growth and adaptation, but it doesn't require abandoning our core values or essence.

Part Two of our Talking Toughness Best Bits 2024 is now live on all major podcasting sites. This episode features clips from Monika Lozinskiene, Joanne Taylor, William McKee, Paul Ryder and David Clutterbuck.

In the 2024 series of the Talking Toughness podcast, we've had the privilege of engaging with true authorities in their fields such as Dr. Jim Loehr and Professor David Clutterbuck, to explore the evolution of human performance and organisational development.

Through these conversations with experienced coaches and professionals, we've explored the future landscape of personal, team and organisational growth, including pondering how AI will ultimately impact on our work.

We appreciate your feedback, your support and look forward to continuing this journey with you into 2025!

Evolution is about growth and adaptation, but it doesn't require abandoning our core values or essence.

Evolution is about growth and adaptation, but it doesn't require abandoning our core values or essence.

In the 2024 series of the Talking Toughness podcast, we've had the privilege of engaging with true authorities in their fields such as Dr. Jim Loehr and Professor David Clutterbuck, to explore the evolution of human performance and organisational development.

Through these conversations with experienced coaches and professionals, we've explored the future landscape of personal, team and organisational growth, including pondering how AI will ultimately impact on our work.

We appreciate your feedback, your support and look forward to continuing this journey with you into 2025!

Part One of our Talking Toughness Best Bits 2024 is now live on all major podcasting sites. This episode features clips from Stephen Murphy, Alessia Mevoli, Lucy Myers, Gordon Ryan, Dan Abrahams and Peter Sewell.

In this discussion with Stephen Murphy, we consider the added value that good quality psychometrics can bring to coaching practice.

However, not all psychometrics are the same. Some might be useful in some settings, others in other settings. It all comes down to coaches' better understanding of what psychometrics are and which measures can make a difference for the coach and their clients.

This customised understanding fosters a deeper connection with the client and empowers clients to explore and find meaning in their experiences, making the coaching process more effective and fulfilling as they navigate their personal and professional journeys.

Listen and learn.

In the next two episodes, we chat with Stephen Murphy. Until recently Stephen was, for many years, Vice President, Thought Leadership & Development for EMCC Global (European Mentoring and Coaching Council.)

As Managing Partner for Clarity Consulting, he coaches and mentors senior business leaders, individually and in teams, towards greater self-awareness and operational impact. His experience spans a wide range of sectors including AI, Banking, Chemicals, Consulting, FMCG, Insurance, IIoT, Legal, Logistics, Media, Pharma, Software, and Wines & Spirits. This session explores the importance of 'reflective practice'.

As soon as you reflect on something, you start to make sense of it. Effective reflection stems from creating an intentional space — both physically and mentally — where individuals can engage in deep thought and active listening. While coaching models can provide useful frameworks and guidelines, they can also impose rigidity that conflicts with the organic nature of conversation and growth. As coaching evolves, the ability to practice with a coaching mindset will likely become increasingly important, emphasising the significance of reflective practice in nurturing both personal and professional development.

Listen and learn.

In this session with Dan Abrahams, we explore his perspectives on the differences and similarities between business coaching and sports coaching, highlighting how the context can shape the coaching approach.

In addition, we delve into Dan's biopsychosocial model of coaching, which emphasises the integration of biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding human performance and wellbeing.

This model illustrates how our physical makeup, mental toughness, and social support systems interact to influence our ability to perform at our best, providing a holistic view that can enhance coaching effectiveness in both sports and business settings.

"We have to understand and appreciate the human behaviour, is biopsychosocial informed." - Dan Abrahams

Listen, learn and enjoy!

We're excited to welcome Dan Abrahams back today to delve into his insights on how we can elevate those who are already successful to aspire to and achieve even greater heights in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Dan shares his strategies for sustaining peak performance, focusing on mental resilience, goal-setting, and adapting to the evolving demands of sports and personal challenges.

Together, we explore how he fosters a growth mindset in athletes and coaches, empowering them to navigate competition while continuing to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

It's not just for those who work in sport. It's for everyone engaged in helping others to be the best that they can be.

"I don't know what it's like to work in an office. However, I can see the relationship between a game face on the pitch and a game face in that facilitation." - Dan Abrahams

Listen, learn and enjoy!

In this session of Talking Toughness, we will tap into the skills, experience and tremendous expertise of Dan Abrahams, a leading sports psychologist dedicated to simplifying the often unnecessarily complex world of sports psychology.

Known for his innovative approaches and engaging insights, Dan works with a diverse range of clients, from athletes to coaches, helping them to incorporate practical strategies into their performance.

His experience covers Formula 1 (Aston Martin), England Golf, England Rugby, leading European Soccer clubs as well as corporate clients. He has a deep interest in how people of all types mentally approach their challenges

Through exploring his professional methods, we can illuminate how Dan demystifies key concepts in sports psychology, making them accessible and actionable for everyday life.

Dan also runs his own podcast show, The Sport Psych Show, as he aims to demystify sport psychology for players, coaches and parents.

"You know how you perceive the world is going to influence how you act in the world." Dan Abrahams.

Listen and learn.

In the second part of our discussion with Lucy Myers, the focus is on the evolving landscape of coaching and therapy, emphasising the importance of accessibility for individuals across all social statuses.

As we see similar overlapping approaches such as coaching, mentoring, psychotherapy and so on emerge, Lucy highlights the vital role of professional bodies in avoiding confusion and particularly in defining therapeutic coaching to foster clarity, confidence, and change for clients.

As practitioners adapt to the needs of a dynamic world, they aim to empower individuals by helping them recognise the advantages and disadvantages they can bring to a situation and navigate the journey toward effective change. This underscores the virtue of collaborative effort within the community of professionals in this field.

The need for clarity has never been greater. Listen and learn.