The Psychology of Leadership: Turn Stress into Peak Performance, with Sebastien Page, a $500 billion fund manager

How do top leaders and athletes use stress to boost performance instead of burning out?

Most high-achieving leaders believe they have to eliminate stress to perform their best—but sports psychology reveals the opposite is true.

The real problem isn't stress itself; it's operating too close to the edge without understanding your optimal performance zone, leading to burnout, lost creativity, and goal-induced blindness.

In this episode of Impact with Ease, Blake talks with Sebastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, about the neuroscience and psychology of peak performance.

Sebastien shares insights from 25 years as a leader in high-pressure finance, revealing how research from elite athletes like Simone Biles and Roger Federer can transform how you lead. You'll learn why zero stress isn't the goal, how to turn stress into energy, and the framework for sustainable success that helps you thrive at work while protecting what matters most in life.

Episode Highlights

Turning Stress Into Peak Performance

[00:04] – Why zero stress isn't the goal for optimal performance

[06:33] – The "second layer" of stress that leads to burnout

[08:15] – The performance curve: when stress helps vs. harms your leadership

Sports Psychology Meets Executive Leadership

[11:18] – Zone pacing: finding your optimal speed as a leader

[13:47] – Flow state and the balance between challenge and capability

[15:20] – What Simone Biles teaches us about overtraining, rest, and coming back stronger

Deep Work, AI, and the Future of Leadership

[23:35] – Deep work vs. shallow work for high-performing leaders

[27:28] – The optimistic case for AI

[30:00] – Why burned-out leaders can't innovate in the AI era

[32:29] – Eric Hoffer's wisdom: "Learners inherit the earth"

Rethinking Success and the Psychology of Goals

[34:15] – You're not burned out—you're addicted to the wrong goals

[36:30] – The Harvard happiness study: what really predicts long-term fulfillment

[38:48] – Achievement doesn't fix a misaligned life

Resilience, Failure, and Sustainable Success

[48:23] – How small daily misalignments drain your energy

[50:07] – Addressing small stressors

[51:06] – Roger Federer and learning to lose well

[55:31] – The one habit that predicts thriving

Powerful Quotes

"What sports psychologists found is that optimal performance isn't at zero stress — it's at the point of healthy activation." – Sebastian Page

"Achievement doesn't fix a misaligned life. How you feel day to day is what matters most." – Blake Schofield

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Sebastian Page:

• https://www.psychologyofleadership.net/

• https://www.instagram.com/sebastienpagebook?igsh=MWk2cWV2c2JmNGhiNA%3D%3D

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mpHw7hFLiqCSawsBkK11g

Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type

The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success: executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone. Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply!

Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership? Let's explore what's possible for your team. Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out, go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/