The High Performance Zone

Matthew Cooper is a cardiac surgeon and the Chief Medical Officer & Director of Global Safety at 3M Health Care. As well as being a distinguished physician, Matthew is also an accomplished aerobatic pilot who is interested in applying aviation safety practices to health care and creating high-performance medical teams.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Matthew Cooper on:

• (00:07:06) High reliability and high performance. As an experienced surgeon, Matthew points out that positive outcomes in the operating room depend on effective teamwork and the ability of the surgeon and the team to identify and mitigate risks. 

• (00:09:18) The importance of speaking up. He stresses the need to develop a safe environment in the operating room when junior team members feel confident enough to challenge authority and speak up against something that doesn’t seem right.

• (00:16:43) Performing under pressure. We talk about having confidence in our training and discuss the benefits of leading with humility, honesty, and vulnerability.

• (00:40:16) Accountability. Matthew explains that the healthcare system tends to blame individuals rather than processes for the things that go wrong. Plus, he describes how honest communication and targeted training can help to improve accountability.

• (00:42:17) Altruism. We discuss motivation, and Matthew describes the power of having a purpose higher than self and the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive impact in the world.

Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist and executive coach who specializes in developing self-awareness and helping business leaders and their teams thrive. Tasha is also the author of Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why The Answers Matter More Than We Think.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Tasha Eurich on;

• (00:05:16) The scientific definition of self-awareness. According to Tasha, self-awareness is the will and the skill to know who you are on the inside, along with the ability to understand how others see you. She also points out that self-awareness is a skill that we can all learn.

• (00:21:18) The role of loving critics. Tasha explains that the most self-aware people tend to have three to five carefully chosen ‘loving critics’ whom they approach for regular feedback. She adds that it’s essential to appoint people who have your best interests at heart and are ready, willing, and able to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard to hear.

• (00:39:39) Getting started. Tasha recommends concentrating on one behaviour you want to change and holding 5-minute conversations once a month with 8-10 key stakeholders. In particular, she advises asking for feedback about how you have performed over the past thirty days and asking for suggestions about what you should do to improve in the next month. 

• (00:55:54) The daily check-in. In order to improve self-awareness, Tasha invites us to ask ourselves these three questions at the end of each day; What went well today? What didn’t go so well, and how can I be smarter tomorrow?

• (01:02:29) The secrets of business success. For Tasha, the three building blocks for a successful team are a leader who models the way, a work culture that expects its employees to tell the truth, and an ongoing commitment to the process of staying self-aware. 

In today's Best of Episode we feature Jill Ellis. Jill is a legend and a trailblazer in the world of women’s soccer. As a coach, she enjoyed unparalleled success and led the U.S Women’s National Team to victory in two World Cups. However, Jill’s never been one to rest on her laurels, and she’s recently stepped into an exciting new role as president of San Diego Wave FC. She’s also accepted a leadership position on FIFA’s Technical Advisory Group, which invites thought leaders from around the world to consider the future of women’s football.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Jill Ellis on;

(00:10:43) Performing under pressure. Jill acknowledges that she works best under pressure and has never been afraid to take risks. Despite her remarkable career, she reveals that she’s still motivated by the desire to succeed and never intends to let herself get too comfortable, conservative, or complacent. 

(00:17:44) The power of teamwork. Jill testifies to the magic that can happen when a group of individuals comes together for the sake of the team. Plus, she points out that she always focuses on building a culture of mutual respect and empowering others to grow and perform to the best of their abilities. 

(00:24:30) Doing things differently. Jill recalls the unconventional approach she took to preparing her team for the World Cup in 2015 and explains that putting the players through a series of uncomfortable and challenging experiences made them humble, hungry, and eager to win.

(00:32:17) Building a community. Jill shares her vision for the future of San Diego Wave FC and expresses her desire to create a personal connection to the local community. She also refers to the increasing popularity of women’s soccer, which appeals to a diverse fan base and attracts a growing number of supporters.

(00:52:04) Looking at football through a different lens. Jill talks about her advisory role with FIFA and sets out her intention to help grow women’s football globally and learn from the experiences and perspectives of players and coaches in developing countries. 

In today's Best of Episode we feature Markus Thesleff. Markus is an award-winning serial entrepreneur with two decades of continuous international success in hospitality as an owner, operator, advisor, and consultant. He has received numerous awards including, Restaurateur of the Year for Middle East & Africa in 2014, 2016 and has consistently been included in the Caterer Power 50 and Hot 100 Entrepreneur lists.

His personal portfolio of hospitality brands has accumulated over 150 Awards; while operating in some of the most competitive cosmopolitan cities from London to Dubai, as well as in different value segments from casual to luxury dining. 

Topics covered in this episode:

• Investing in people as your primary asset
• Entrepreneurship with compassion
• Tackling global issues like food poverty
• How to name a restaurant
• Filling donation boxes with 50K in cash
• Being raised by an international ambassador
• Human existence and spirituality
• Joining the Guardian Angels in the UK
• Meditating on your best self
• Overcoming fear
• Entrepreneurship and leadership

In today's Best of Episode we feature Sydney Barber. Barber is decorated with many awards and accolades under her belt. She’s an Illinois native and a mechanical engineering major, hoping to join the Marine Corps after time at the Academy.  She is a  walk-on sprinter and hurdler of the Navy Women’s Varsity Track and Field team.

Barber is a graduate of Lake Forest High School in Illinois, and as a mechanical engineering major, she aspires to commission as a Marine Corps ground officer. As a member of the Navy Women’s Varsity Track and Field team, she has lettered all three years of competing and is a USNA record holder for the outdoor 4x400m relay. Barber is also the co-president of the Navy Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club, secretary for the National Society of Black Engineers, and a member of the USNA Gospel Choir and Midshipman Black Studies Club. Barber is currently the brigade’s 1st regiment executive officer.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• What Does Glad To Be Here mean as a Brigade commander 
• Serving kids in India 
• Defining core values and establishing a purpose 
• The responsibility of serving as a Brigade Commander
• The Power of Investing in oneself 
• Setting goals and having dreams 
• The Best lessons of leadership
• Passing the baton
• Giving energy to others and your teams for collective success 
• How track and field improves teamwork and community

In today's Best of Episode we feature Robyn Benincasa. Robyn is a world-class adventure racer, top-50 motivational speaker, and author of the New York bestseller How Winning Works; Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Teams on Earth. She’s also the founder of the Athena Project, a nonprofit which enables survivors of serious illnesses and emotional trauma to take part in confidence-building multi-sport adventures and endurance treks. In 2014, Robyn was selected as a CNN hero in recognition of her outstanding work with survivors, and through her inspirational keynotes and epic adventure challenges, she continues to encourage others to emerge stronger from adversity and work relentlessly towards their goals.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Robyn Benincasa on;

• (00:17:31) Cultivating courage. When it comes to courage, Robyn believes you’re either born with it, or you need to borrow it or build it by surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and setting yourself audacious challenges and goals that benefit others as well as yourself.

• (00:21:47) Eight essential leadership lessons. According to Robyn’s ‘teamwork’ acronym, leadership is defined by total commitment, empathy, adversity management, mutual respect, ‘we thinking rather than me thinking,’ ownership of the project, relinquishment of ego, and kinetic leadership.

• (00:27:17) Overcoming adversity. Robyn recalls an extraordinarily challenging situation where her teammates’ emotional support and encouragement helped her complete the seemingly impossible challenge of climbing to the top of a 20,000-foot active volcano in Ecuador.

• (00:44:06) Fulfilling your dreams. We discuss the importance of goal-setting, and Robyn describes how she stays motivated and purpose-driven by always making sure to have a goal or a dream on her calendar to work towards.

• (00:45:32) Expressing gratitude. Robyn explains how her diagnosis of end-stage osteoarthritis made her grateful for what her body is still capable of accomplishing and inspired her to create Project Athena to provide support and hope for others recovering from illnesses or traumatic experiences.

In today's best of episode, we feature Michelle ‘Mace’ Curran, a former fighter pilot and one of only a handful of women who have flown with the Thunderbirds demonstration team. Michelle was the lead solo pilot of the Thunderbirds from 2020 to 2021, and during the darkest days of the pandemic, her flying skills served to entertain the public and inspire the next generation of female aviators.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Michelle Curran on:

• (00:03:04) The Super Bowl flyover. Michelle recalls her first nerve-wracking public flight with The Thunderbirds and reveals the final adjustments she needed to make to synchronize her flight with the singer’s rendition of the National Anthem.

• (00:19:23) Pulling 9 Gs in an F-16. She describes what it’s like to pull 8-9 Gs at 100 feet above the ground and talks about the left-wing solo pilot’s signature manoeuver, a 360-degree right turn performed in full afterburner.

• (00:35:35) The America Strong flyovers. We talk about the collaboration between the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels on their joint flyovers to support healthcare workers during the Covid crisis, and Michelle expresses her gratitude for the rare opportunity to fly at 500 feet over the Manhattan skyline.

• (00:56:16) The impact of an all-woman crew. As a proud member of the all-female Thunderbird # 5 crew, Michelle points to the diverse opportunities for women in the Air Force and hopes that her example will inspire others.

• (01:19:05) What flying with the Thunderbirds taught her. After a stellar career in the Air Force, Michelle confesses she will miss the camaraderie of her exceptional colleagues as well as the opportunities for continuous improvement offered by the service’s debrief culture.

Renee Linnell is a former surf model and professional tango dancer who, after suffering a series of personal tragedies, travelled the world in search of a sense of fulfilment and meaning. At the age of 33, Renee became embroiled in an exploitative New Age cult that shattered her sense of self and led to devastating financial and emotional consequences. Renee’s first book, The Burn Zone, chronicles her experiences of living in a cult, and her recently-released sequel, Still on Fire, focuses on her recovery and celebrates the magic, miracles, and romance in her life.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Renee Linnell on:

• (00:20:23) What she’s learned from her spiritual journey. Renee reveals how her quest for enlightenment made her realize that humans are meant to experience the entire spectrum of emotions and that you don’t need to become enlightened to be kind and do good in the world. 

• (00:30:58) Her near-death experience. She describes how a mysterious man saved her from drowning in the Hawaiin surf and shares her belief that we all have a team of non-physical beings watching over us whom we can call upon for guidance and support.

• (00:44:03) Celebrating the little things. Renne recounts how she pulled herself out of depression by reminding herself of the small pleasures in life, such as drinking coffee from her favorite mug or watching the colors change in the sky at sunrise.

• (00:49:42) The road to recovery. We discuss how Renee discovered that self-care and self-love were crucial for helping her to heal herself and treat others with more love, kindness, and compassion. 

• (00:53:47) Learning to live life on her own terms. Renee speaks about rebuilding a life that aligns with her authentic values rather than trying to fit in with societal expectations or do what anyone else wants her to do.

Rob Volpe is a marketing expert and an empathy advocate who specializes in helping companies create more empathy at work and improve communication, innovation, and problem-solving in the workplace. He’s also the CEO of Ignite 360 and the author of Tell Me More About That; Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Rob Volpe on; 

• (00:06:10) The definition of empathy. He points out the difference between emotional empathy, which involves understanding what someone else is feeling, and cognitive empathy, which refers to the ability to see another person’s point of view. 

• (00:23:13) The five steps to empathy. Rob sets out his five-step process for strengthening your empathy skills, which consists of dismantling your judgment, asking good questions, actively listening, integrating into understanding, and using solution imagination.

• (00:39:04) Removing the why. Rob explains that asking questions that start with why can make people feel defensive. Instead, he recommends reframing your questions and using how, what, where, when, or who to make them seem less accusatory.

• (00:56:15) The power of empathy. We refer to statistics that show how empathetic leadership can improve employee retention, boost performance, and make workplaces feel more inclusive.

• (01:10:21) The debrief. Rob talks about the debriefs he conducts after each of his market research interviews and explains that he focuses on what he’s learned from the consumer, the implications for the business, and the creation of an effective action plan.

Elizabeth (Dr. E) Lombardo is a clinical psychologist, an inspirational public speaker, and the author of Get Out of the Red Zone; Transform Your Stress and Optimize True Success. Elizabeth has been dubbed the ‘Head Coach of Happiness’ by Shaquille O’Neal, and her life’s purpose is to bring out the best in others and help them feel good about themselves.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo on;

• (00:07:13) Her definition of happiness. Dr. E points out the difference between pleasure and happiness and shares her formula for true contentment, which focuses on the three pillars of passion, purpose, and people.

• (00:21:23) The physical benefits of happiness. Elizabeth reveals that happier people live eight to ten years longer than their more anxious counterparts and explains how stress negatively impacts our nervous and immune systems.

• (00:24:22) The dangers of the Red Zone. Dr. E sets out her sliding scale of color-coded stress levels, which range from 0 in the Green Zone to 10 in the Red Zone. Plus, she describes how our thought processes become narrower and more negative when we enter the Red Zone.

• (00:36:07) Controlling your inner critic. We talk about overcoming negative self-talk and not allowing your internal dialogue to hijack your chances of success.

• (01:01:03) Priming her brain for positivity. Dr. E shares her morning routine and reveals how meditation, exercise, and sleep help her to keep out of the Red Zone and cope with the challenges in her life.