Brain In The Game Sport Mind Coaching Podcast

Australian Wallaby captain, Michael Hooper is the most capped Australian rugby union captain in Wallaby history. Michael has made 118 International appearances and has won the coveted John Eales Medal for a record fourth time. At the age of 22, Michael became one of the youngest test captains and has spent the last eight years forging his on- and off-field dominance. In this episode of Brain in the Game, Michael shares his thoughts and philosophies on leadership and the personal journey he has undertaken to get to this point in his career, and where he believes there is opportunity for improvement. We also discuss what Michael does during his down time and how he compartmentalises between his sport and his life away from rugby. Michael shares the importance of learning self awareness and the resilience that comes with each new challenge. Check out this deep dive into the inspired mind of Michael Hooper.

Selection vs Growth – What is the right option? In episode #76 we unpack the conundrum all athletes experience, “Do I focus on selection, or do I focus on growth?” We will look at the anxiety that can be caused when an athlete is split between growing their skillset or remaining focused just on selection whilst in performance season. We will also walk through the three key aspects to keep in mind to make this an easy proposition to the elite athlete: Currency Timing, and Plates So settle in and bring your notepad as I share some insider mindsets. For more content check out other episodes at: https://www.smartmindhub.com/podcast and online courses here: https://www.smartmindhub.com/store

Building a Successful Team Culture –⁠ How to get your team to fire on cue Much is made of the importance of a team culture when it comes to success – it is often touted as the secret sauce to a team's results. In fact, Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United Football Manager (soccer) would often cite his team dynamic as their secret. There have been a number of examples of when this has worked, when a team “fire” together, and – against all odds – come out on top. I mean, heck Disney has cornered the market on highly produced comeback stories. However, there are countless missed opportunities when a team doesn't fire together, when a few rogue individuals can completely derail a team. And what could have been, never was! So, WHY. Why does that happen? What strategies are at play during a miraculous turn-around, or a misfire opportunity? • Is it pure fate? • Did the stars align? • Was there a lone person who happened-along and galvanised all the missing pieces at that magical moment? • Or is it the hand of the almighty… as Diego Maradona would have us believe? Both Maradona and Disney may have us thinking one or all of these are at play. However, the reality is a little less dramatic and a lot more reliable. In order for us to understand HOW we first need to understand WHY. And that is what this podcast will focus on: How and why do some teams work, and some don't?

Cycle of Performance – When is the right time to improve, to perform or to recover? By taking a deep look at the typical yearly cycle most athletes traditionally follow, we uncover the hidden mental and emotional minefield athletes unknowingly put themselves through every year: The pre-season The start of season The mid-to-end of season, and The (much-awaited) post-season So in this episode, we unpack what is often ‘willingly' done to self-sabotage the season and kill the momentum – all in the name of preparation, results and balance. 

Despite all this doom and gloom we will also (of course) outline what we can and should be doing to both optimise and build momentum as well as create a sustainable – and realistic – growth mindset over a full season, and even into our off-season. So be prepared to have a mind (and behaviour) altering peek inside the brain of an optimised, elite athlete. Still, feel like you need more? Then check out our Building Champion Minds online video training series. Building Champion Minds will walk you through, step-by-step, actual processes and teach you skills to become that champion athlete. Each episode is broken into several 10-15 minute consumable and actionable video sessions. These bite-size training sessions allow you to watch all at once or as you wish, with lifetime access to the trainings and updates.

Where you choose to focus your emotions will dictate the quality and consistency of your performance In this episode of Brain in the Game, we look closely at the importance of our emotions when learning and retaining new skills, and importantly, our how emotions can help or hinder the consistency of our performance. Listen in to learn how to implement two simple but effective techniques that will optimise your performance system. This is an audio replay of a recent training video utilised by some high-level athletes on skill acquisition, skill retention and skill optimisation. If you would prefer to watch the video and collect some further bonus material then click here. Still feel like you want more? Then check out our Building Champion Minds online training video series here.

Sustainable Performance –⁠ 4 Key Frames to Optimise Our Own Unique Characteristics How to set sustainable objectives and goals, and 4 Key Frames necessary to consistently perform successfully. PLUS A limited time special offer for our podcast listeners with our FREE video series: The Performance Framework - see here for details. In the previous episode (Episode #71) of Brain in the Game we looked at WHY we build pre-season objectives and goals and what that does to keep you on track. In this episode (Episode #72) we look at HOW we set sustainable objectives and goals and the 4 Key Frames necessary to consistently perform successfully. We take a deep look at: the reasons why we, as humans, are designed to work much better when we have a clear and defined objective how we create those objectives in such a way as to optimise our unique characteristicsunderstanding the importance of not only putting key people around us, also the kinds of people they need to be working out what type of archetype you are and why that's important if you truly do want to be a champion So buckle up your mental safety harness as we go deep into your mind, the mind of a champion.

Good intentions are not good enough. "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." –⁠ James Clear, Atomic Habits Statistically, they say the third Monday of the new year is traditionally one of our mentally darkest days for modern society, as we realise those New Years resolutions that we made with all good intentions have already slipped. Our plans of glory fly out the window before they even got started –⁠ all due to our inability to stay on track. And as athletes, it's that time of year too – post silly season – or at least it's that time of the season when performance goal setting springs forth and our year becomes all too real. Despite athletes' denials, they are human and often suffer the same stickability issues as the rest of us, so in this episode we discuss the five key steps to staying on track with your performance goals: Clarity and Accountability Simplicity Structured Objectives and Goals Sustainable fuel source Cyclic Data Collection Systems So set aside just 20 minutes as we give you the rundown on the ins and outs of sustainable pre-season goal setting. A limited time special offer for our podcast listeners with our FREE video series:The Performance Framework - see here for details.

Why are mental blocks such an issue for athletes? Almost every coach will understand the frustration and pain that comes from an athlete being mentally and emotionally paralysed by a mental block. That uncharacteristic derailing and shuddering halt of a normally calm, in control and capable athlete by what can only be described as an irrational FEAR –⁠ be it a block around a specific skill, a venue or even within a competition. In episode #70 of Brain in the Game we listen to a lecture I delivered recently (January 2019) on the four core components of mental blocks and how we, as coaches, can best manage the situation. Four core mental block components: Why we have mental blocks What actually happens inside our minds with a mental block How we can fix the blockage What if the blockage keeps returning And if you would like to view the slides of the Mental Blocks presentation I gave, they can be found here. So sit back, enjoy and let's unpack performance mental blocks. PLUS: A special offer for our podcast listeners with our FREE video series available for a limited time: The Performance Framework - see here for details.

The Blame Game –⁠ Whose fault was it, really? Whose fault was it, really? When things are going well and athletes are winning, people love to take the credit. However, when things fall over, those same people are very quick to play the "Blame Game". "It wasn't my fault... they didn't give me the right information... I couldn't do my job... they distracted me." etc etc etc… The reality is when we descend into the Blame Game we are no longer in a position to move forward or grow. Laying blame is counter-productive to development and momentum. In this episode, we are going to examine why people play the blame game and what we should be doing instead. So settle in and let's take an honest and clinical look at the strategies to avoid spiralling in to this unnecessary process. If you enjoy this episode then check out http://www.smartmind.com.au for more information and check out our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ and keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Do I fit the selectors' mould, or do I create my own style? Who are you playing for? It's an age-old conundrum for elite and professional athletes, “Do I change who I am and how I play to fit the mould of the selectors current criteria OR do I back my own unique skills and become the player I know I can be?” And the answer isn't ‘Immediately' that simple - surprisingly. In this episode of Brain in the Game we will examine the pros and cons of each option and then look at the sustainability of growth model: Consolidate - Construct - Implement skill development and performance sustainability. We will unpack a number of impacts on you as a performer and as an individual person when selecting to 'fit the mould' or to 'be you'. Check out this episode of Brain in the Game, where I help rebalance this by showing key strategies in building a sustainable self belief. So let's buckle in for this controversial topic and dive down the rabbit hole. If you enjoy this episode then check out http://www.smartmind.com.au for more information and checkout our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ and keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Building Sustainable Self-Belief – Self-belief is a system, not a feeling Believe it or not, athletes –⁠ more than others –⁠ tend to suffer with low self-esteem and low self-belief. This sounds bizarre when you think just how cocky they can appear on the outside. That is, until you understand the 24/7 public scrutiny they are constantly under today, expected to always be “available”. Beyond their sporting performance - where they are publicly judged, categorised and ranked - they are also open to constant assessment of their comments, their actions and their beliefs via social media. With the liberation of access to information the internet and social media bring, it also brings having to be “on” constantly. This can increases our awareness of being inside the “fish bowl” and in athlete-mode 24 hours a day. This can manifest a warped view of the athlete by the athlete as they become more externally referenced and less self assured. Check out this episode of Brain in the Game, where I help rebalance this by showing key strategies in building a sustainable self-belief. If you enjoy this episode, check out http://www.smartmind.com.au for more information and our Smart Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartMindinstitute/ to keep up with our videos and athlete profiles.

Four steps to Beat Mental Fatigue Every athlete gets fatigued. Heck! We train hard, we push ourselves to the limits and beyond –⁠ so it's no surprise we become physically fatigued. However, there is a BIG difference between physical fatigue and mental fatigue. One is sore muscles and dwindling energy, the other can have a catastrophic impact on our ability to function, process and perform. In this podcast we will explore four key strategies to avoid the slippery slope of mental fatigue. So lets get back into the saddle and tackle this all too familiar nemesis of the elite athlete.

The three steps to effective performance preparation The second in our series of podcasts on the global tour, this week coming from Dublin. As the internal and external pressures of performing becomes imminent we “can” be influenced to begin to doubt our own ability to perform when it counts. This all too common phenomena can seriously inhibit our performance potential. In this episode I discuss the three key skills and stages to performing in a confident and controlled manner irrespective of the expectations of the situation. Sit back and enjoy as we discuss positive mindset and emotional platforming, Key visualisation techniques and effective anchoring.

The Perils of Diving for the Line –⁠ Taking Your Eye off the Ball A message from Tokyo: As the end of many athletes seasons approaches and we begin to think about putting our feet up for a few weeks well earned rest, we can “almost” be forgiven for taking our eye off the ball and thinking about getting to the end, making that last ditch attempt at finishing on a high. However that flippant mindset can be very dangerous when we consider what could go wrong… In many sports we are heading into the finals and as such if we do not have an open and growth mindset we can be prone to mistakes. So as I walk through the streets of Tokyo this short podcast discussed the perils of diving for the line.

Control your Performance –⁠ Control what you can control, let go of what you cannot Our sense of “Control” or at the very least our sense of taking steps in “controlling” our environment, our preparation and our performance is a core “Need” as an athlete, we need to know what we are doing is the best that we can, be it a new skill or competing for our country at the highest level. We “need” to know we have prepared well enough to perform, we have ticked all the boxes to be ready - this lowers our anxiety and increases our confidence allowing us to feel 'ready'. However sometimes that unemotional and structural “Need” process to be in control can turn into an emotional and irrational “WANT” and begin to overlap and engulf our preparation and our performance with unchecked emotional baggage that raises our anxiety and increases our sense “What If” scenarios. During this episode of Brain in the Game we will explore how we better manage these “Wants” and “Needs” and what we as Coaches and Athletes can do to eliminate those negative doubts and overwhelming habitual behaviours. So gather round, as we shift your perspective from “What if it goes wrong” to “What if it goes right”.

Five Steps To Handling Big Competition Pressure –⁠ How To Value Every Performance As we settle into the 2016 Rio Olympics and we are consumed by the spectacle that is the summer games, we turn our focus to the best of the best, those flawless performances, smashed world and olympic records and the apparent super-human performances of these athletes. Lets take a closer look at how to get to this pinnacle of performance and what we can do to better secure our place in sporting success. Human nature is that we remember like a news reel, we remember the peaks of the highs, those world records falling, those close calls at the line and we recall those depths of underachievement from heart wrenching fails, falls and stumbles. Whereas in reality, and statistically, the vast majority of performers will not win an Olympic medal, nor perform at their best… in part that is because on the day they did not perform the way they had trained! This can be because of nerves, dealing with pressure or not bringing what they have done in training onto the world stage due to confidence issues or playing it too safe. This is typically not because of a lack of talent, rather a human flaw in preparation. In this episode of Brain in the Game we will look at 5 training techniques that you can embed, a better mental and emotional framework which will prepare you for high pressure performance and allows you to bring your A game, every game. So grab a pen and paper and take notes as we jump into a Rio Olympic special of Brain in the Game.

Controlling your Performance Outcomes with a Three-Legged Stool –⁠ Effectively managing your thoughts, feelings and actions When things don't go the way you planned with your performance, what triggers it for you? I mean, what REALLY triggers it for you, specifically? Is it a negative thought that grows from a passing thought into an unscalable mountain that you just cannot see a way past; an uneasy feeling that quickly occupies your whole body, incapacitating your flow; an action that you keep doing even though you know it's not working for you that unraveled your winning and well-trained performance when under competitive situations? What if I told you, with a 3 legged stool we could better manage and control your mindset, your consistency and of course your performances! ... Interested? Then you best listen to this episode, as we look at a strategy to manage your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. This one comes with a free download too!

Recognising your Performance Patterns –⁠ Understanding how your behavioural patterns influence your performance, your mindset, your choices and your outcomes Humans are hardwired to recognise patterns from our earliest moments - our parents faces, objects in the trees, even animals in the clouds. However, can you accurately recognise those key patterns that are the difference between a good performance and a not so good performance? If human behaviour is nothing more than patterns and triggers, then the key to being a successful athlete is high-end consistency, and that replicability of action can only be achieved when you can identify what it is you did to achieve it the first place. And so pattern recognition and pattern management becomes a critical skill-set to any aspiring champion. In this episode of Brain in the Game, we will identify what are key patterns, what they can and cannot influence and we will uncover five key systems to owning your performance each and every time.

Athletes and Emotions –⁠ The deep connection between our emotions and our performance What are you feeding your emotional monster? Keeping an athletes attitude on track is more about the words we choose to use rather than their desire to perform. The daily volatility of our emotions and our emotional perspectives can heavily influence the quality of our performance way beyond our physical or technical limitations. And when we allow these tumultuous emotions to dictate what we can and cannot produce as an athlete we leave ourselves open to frustration, inconsistency, and disappointment. In this episode of Brain in the Game we will better understand the connection between our emotions, our thought processes, our language and our ability to consistently perform. We will look at what makes up our attitude and how we can better understand and manage its influence over our better judgement. So, grab a pen and paper and listen closely as we unpack what you do and don't say for success.

Why Some Competitive Athletes Start Slow –⁠ A good start can lead to a great finish In this episode we look at why some competitive athletes adopt the strategy of starting slowly, in hope of building into their performance, and why that actually works AGAINST you more often than work FOR you. Many athletes do not start their competition performances the way they would have imagined when training, choosing instead in the emotion of the moment to take it tentatively, slowly and defensively. This reactive strategy can often be in an effort to minimise the risks and manage the possible fallout of what could go wrong instead of what should go right. When you trained your performance in preparation to compete you, trained to perform at your best, to push your boundaries and be that star. However when the day arrives you can often perform differently and it is this change in strategy that can mentally devalue all the preparation and render your competition an unfortunate fait accompli. Competition anxiety and fear of what 'may' go wrong can dominate an athlete's thoughts and subsequently their outcomes –⁠ if allowed to. In episode #58 we take a look at why athletes and coaches choose safe over trained and how that can negatively affect the long-term performance habits of a potential champion. So don't be shy, dig in and let's understand why you choose the performance you do.

Successful Professional Athletes Learn To Build A Life On The Road –⁠ How to travel the world and perform without wanting to kill your teammates When you finally make it and leap into the world of international competition, becoming an athlete traveling nationally and globally for your sport and your country, it can become apparent very quickly that what you did to get there –⁠ can soon become very difficult to maintain. From a hotel room in Mumbai or an Airport lounge in Shanghai, that finally tuned ecosystem of success can easily get out of sync. And those cool teammates you used to see for a few hours a day at training are now sharing your toilet and hairbrush and testing your focus just by the mere proximity to your EVERYTHING. The seemingly glamorous world of a professional travelling athlete can take as much preparation as the sport itself if you want to get it right and compete at your best no matter where in the world the event is. In this podcast I share with you some key techniques, strategies and mindset to successful life on the road. So sit back, grab a pen and paper and make some notes for your next tour preparation.

Remembering Your Best Performance Under Competition Pressure –⁠ Remember what you need to remember, when you need to remember it, without that amnesia We have all been there at some stage haven't we that "Performance amnesia" moment, where time stands still - just think back to school when all that study, all those late nights and all those anxious moments come down to that final exam, and then - nothing! No memory at all of what you actually need to remember! Despite cramming everything you could possibly cram the only thing you can think of is what your teacher will say when they see that blank test paper. That one single moment in time of emptiness CAN actually consume your every thought in the future! IF you allow it to… This same performance amnesia could impact your competitive career too, that moment when you step out onto the competitive arena and you get that blankness, you can no longer remember your routine, or what the coach had told you was critical or simply what your process is! However don't panic just yet, there is a strategy to overcome those horrifying moment and it all has to do with your preparation! So settle back, clear your schedule and allow your mind to see just how important these next 20 minutes could be for your on and off arena performances.

Slaying your Performance Demons We all have those demons that hold us back and stop us performing –⁠ it's what we do with them that makes the difference Be it as simple as a missed opportunity, a messed up skill or routine, or as complex as an injury or you were completely owned by your competitor in front of 100,000 spectators - we all have those internal demons who haunt us and our performance. Those demons are often the biggest and most painful inhibitor to our progress and us achieving our true potential as an athlete. Those internal thoughts, feelings and emotions can often grow to overwhelm everything else we do, defining and owning us in the process - IF we allow them to. In this episode #55 of Brain in the Game we will look at what performance demons are, why we have them, their long term consequences and most importantly what we can do to slay those demons forever. So grab your comforter, your tub of popcorn as we settle into a horror story where the good-guy slays the demon with science!

Athletes –⁠ How do you Measure your Success in Sport? How do you measure your sporting success? Your gauge on success is as individual as your fingerprint. We all strive, at an animalistic level, to be successful. It's part of our survival instinct, our social standing and our unique identity. And sometimes we are quick to judge others on their perceived successes. But do you really know what success is and how to create it and nurture it? Humans are primarily pack animals and so some of us instinctively strive to be at the top of that pack. Whereas others just talk a good game and some are happy to assimilate. Sport is founded on those same primal animal instincts, being the most successful is how we gauge a champion, someone who did something better more times than the rest of the herd! Yet we intuitively know little about what constitutes a real success, let alone how to replicate it. In this episode of Brain in the Game we look at what, why and how we use success smarter.

Is there more to the sexes than we were lead to believe, from a coaches perspective? We often gravitate to either coaching boys or girls in our chosen sport. We also hear coaches frequently identify themselves as a 'male coach' or 'female coach.' We frequently hear people generalise the genders by a stereo-typical behaviour However is this an accurate, productive or even fair way of thinking? Is there really a difference between how we should coach male athletes to how we should coach female athletes? And is this bias based on social norms or hard science? Coaching of elite, professional and extreme sport is a growing specialised industry so in this episode #53 we explore some of those physiological, neurological, mental, emotional and social differences between the sporting sexes as well as many of the similarities as we strive to uncover if there really is, in fact, a difference in how we should coach male versus female athletes. So don your long-held beliefs and be ready to be surprised, challenged, (perhaps called-out?) as well as empowered as we unpack some of those well-nurtured myths.

Sporting Performance Failures - It's all about practical perspective. Elite, professional and extreme sport is a high investment way of life, not only financially but more importantly physically and emotionally too. And with that high investment comes the inevitable knocks and failures along the way. So how do you handle those failures to keep the journey alive? Knowing there will always be good and not so good times doesn't always stop it effecting performance and self-esteem, but should it? In this episode of Brain in the Game (#51) we will explore the consequences of having a one-eyed view of our performance and how we have learnt to see what we choose to see. We will examine different techniques to create perspective and balance and uncover the positive possibilities as well as the negative consequences to failure. So grab a mirror as you look deep inside yourself to see just how to improve your choices.

Your Sustainability as an Athlete –⁠ What you do in the shower could hold the key! There is no denying it we are creatures of habit and how we do one thing tends to be how we do most things. What this means is if things are going great we tend to stay in that place... however may not grow. If things are not going as well as you want, the likelihood of it getting better on its own is slim at best. So by us recognising our core behaviours could hold the key to either replicating success and growing, or tweaking what you are currently struggling with to get a better system. In this episode of Brain in the Game we look at six (6) key stages of creating replicability and sustainability in your sporting performance. Knowing your natural approach Sustainable Planning Calibration and perspective Creating sustainable momentum Using Patterns and Triggers Balanced approach These six strategies utilise our natural mental and emotional framework –⁠ our already well established processes. From these building blocks, it then helps you create a system that works for you. A system designed BY you FOR you. So if your performance is perfect every time, don't bother with this approach. However if you think you could be doing things better, this could be the one episode you cannot miss! So listen in closely as we jump into the shower! (metaphorically speaking of course)

Emotions: Rocket fuel or Kryptonite? Your choice. Our emotions are an integral part of our sporting and performance success strategy. When used correctly our emotions can be the rocket fuel that catapults our career to heights beyond our wildest dreams. However if handled badly they can be our own personal Kryptonite and completely derail, or even crush, our career beyond salvation. When most coaches focus on the obvious physical Skills, it is often this hidden internal dynamite that goes undetected until it goes “BOOM!” So why is this internal concoction of potent chemicals so critical to our ability to perform? And why is it so hard to get it right? In this episode of Brain in the Game we look at how this under appreciated and rarely trained skill-set is the make or break of your career and why no one else is telling you about it. So many athletes are impacted by performance anxiety and blame their ability to perform specific skills or set of skills in specific situations, rather than understand the beast within. So settle in and crank up the volume as we uncover your emotional blueprint to success.

Being A Parent versus Being A Parent Of An Athlete When we become parents it is often a culture shock. We don't get that all-important and often joked about handbook telling us how to behave and how to do it right. And yes being a parent can be a little bit hit-and-miss, learning along the way, always vowing to do it better the next time. When we add into that mix (which can already feel a bit sketchy) the parenting of an elite athlete... ... whose career is on the line ... immersed in a highly competitive environment during their years when they are still forming their own minds ... with multiple people outside the family unit heavily influencing your child's emotional development. It can be incredibly volatile and a little unnerving. Having worked with thousands of athletes and their families as I have been building my mind coaching practice, I have learnt that being the parent of an athlete is just as important as being a parent, even their coach. It requires the same level of knowledge and role defining to be successful. And so this episode of Brain in the Game is to help give parents (and I am talking to myself now too) a clearer, more structured approach to the pivotal support role of a child's sporting career. So lock yourself away for the next 45 minutes and get ready for some self analysis as we learn together what it takes to be the parent of an elite athlete.

Sporting Success – 6 steps to your best season ever Start the season the way you want it every time! We naturally gravitate towards what we have always done, a sense of familiarity despite wanting more out of our performance - yet we tend to get to the end of each competitive season with regrets and promises to do it differently next year. So how do we get off this competitive merry-go-round? How do we achieve our goals without falling into old patterns and behaviours? We need to do it right and do it from the start! This episode of Brain in the Game outlines just what you need to do to set up your season the right way. By following this structured and replicable 6 step system we can achieve exactly what we want, without those niggling regrets or feeling there is a diminishing window of opportunity. Start the season the way you want it every time! Settle in with pen and paper and lets build your best year ever, together.

How to Keep Your Mental Machine Ticking Over and Still Enjoy the Silly Season How do you keep athletes ticking over when everyone else is switched off? I share my top tips on how to keep your mental machine ticking over and still enjoy the silly season. As we hurtle towards the silly season and the end of the year, much of the world is already switched off and just going through the motions until the new year. Many of the sporting codes have also wound up for the year or are preparing for a dip in intensity over the silly season and this is often when athletes switch off too. After an intense year, that lure of some downtime sounds enticing –⁠ but is that really what you want to be doing right now? I outline five key strategies to help stop next year from being a struggle to get off the ground after the holiday season stall in momentum. I also discuss eight key questions you should be asking yourself to ensure your next season is better than your last. Take the time to prepare BEFORE you find it's too late...

Mind Games and How to Protect Yourself Against Them –⁠ The Ethical use of Mind Games We have all fell victim to letting someone getting inside our head and influence our performance. However, the use of Mind Games can be far more sinister than just thinking negative thoughts or allowing your competitors experience beat you! As sport becomes more commercial it also becomes more competitive and this can lead to people going to extraordinary lengths to win. Understanding what Mind Games are, how to ethically utilise them and how to immunise yourself against Mind Games can be an important skill-set to learn. In this episode of Brain in the Game we explore this increasing phenomenon and build effective strategies to manage it.

Athletes, How to Upgrade Your Coach and Feel Good About ItUpskilling or Upgrading your Coaching Team –⁠ Building the Right Team at the Right Time. When we first start out on our sporting path, our needs and coaching requirements are quite simple. All we want is to have fun, feel comfortable and feel secure. However as we progress through the ranks towards elite, extreme or professional performance our needs change… As do the needs from our entourage supporting us. The same team we began with may not have the skill-set to take you all the way. So as we examine our careers are we putting the right coaches in the right place at the right time? Possibly not! This could be seriously inhibiting your career and may stop your career if you choose not to act.. This episode looks at how we effectively assess and select the right coaching staff to meet your needs, and how we can navigate that emotionally tricky job of upgrading your team to meet the real needs of an elite performer. This one is for athletes, parents and coaches.

You have the skills but do you have the mindset to be a consistent performer? – Lewis Hamilton, you need a Mind Coach Lewis Hamilton is (for my money) the best Formula 1 driver on the circuit today. However, he doesn't do it as easily as he should - and that is not due to lack of driving skill. Lewis Hamilton is currently on the top of the drivers board but he isn't doing it easily, with Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo hot on his heels, Lewis' rollercoaster emotions are playing much more of an influencing role in his on-track driving. And with this well publicised disharmony within the Mercedes F1 Team, it is having more of an influence on Lewis' consistency of performance than on Nico's as we reach the pointy end of the season - so will Hamilton hold it together? Does Lewis Hamilton need a Mind Coach? ...Someone to help him manage his emotions on and off the track? ...So he can manage the competition the best way he knows how? Of course he does! So ask yourself the same question: How well do you manage your consistency, your emotions and your team? You have the skills. Do you have the mindset to be a consistent performer? Check out these 3 key steps to building a consistent, replicable performance.

The ONLY 10 Questions a Coach Should Ask Athletes When Planning As coaches we are used to being the ring master, the fountain of all knowledge, knowing what to do now and into the future to build an athlete. It has been our role for so long, that now we just do it without thinking... and often without consultation. However this singular approach in our mind-set can be even more effective when we engage the athlete's mind into the planning and building stages.So I have listed my top 10 questions I ask my athletes when I am working with them on a new objective. I list the questions, why they are so important and what to look for in an athlete's response. So check out how many you use and what you could be doing differently to get more effective results. Engage the athlete's mind and win their commitment.

If you have ever hit the wall, been dragged down or lost your Mojo, then this podcast is for you. Getting back in the mental game is all about becoming a mental rock climber. "What can I do when nothing appears to work?" We can so easily get sucked into the negative mindset that "Nothing I do is working!" This draws the focus on the overwhelm rather than the opportunities. When we get into this self deprecating headspace it is all too easy to lose focus and objectivity, leaving us short on how to navigate our way through the tough training and/or competitive times. In this episode of Brain in the Game I will outline several key strategies to allow you to see it from a different, more opportunistic, perspective.

Begin by knowing where it comes from and how it impacts you. We are all impacted on some level by stress and anxiety caused by expectations –⁠ that's just human nature. However those human traits can also cause performance issues if not managed correctly. This episode looks at how you can better manage those internal and external influences and still perform consistently every time.

Three Key Lessons Learnt on Tour that Every Athlete and Coach Should Know I recently visited the Sepang F1 International Circuit in Malaysia with a young up and coming racing car driver. Here I made 3 key observations that every athlete and coach should be aware of when preparing to perform. ...It's ALL in the preparation.

No magic wand supplied. When building for or engulfed in competition, it can be easy to forget to do stuff –⁠ and it is not until it comes back and repeatedly bites you do you realise you have forgotten to do something. Behavioural change and behavioural mastery are just the same, when I explain to a client that the reason they hare having consistent issues is because they have fed that action consistently over a period of time –⁠ they are horrified. And although they come to me when things are painful, I explain to them that “pain” will go away if they apply the same diligence to the correct behaviour as they did to the negative. Settle in and enjoy this 11 minute episode on the 4 key stages of getting a consistent performance: Specificity Emotional buy-in Time Consistency

Staying on Track – the view from the front As an athlete much of our focus from an early stage is getting to the top of our sport, being number one, it is often our only thought, it can be what motivates, innovates and sometimes derails our progress forwards. The same can be said on a micro level too, our initial focus on beating those around us can sometimes lead to forming our outcomes and our downfall. So once you have achieved your objective, been selected, won a title –⁠ it can be a huge relief –⁠ but what then? How do you keep that momentum moving in the right direction, keep your focus and not stalling or losing direction. In this episode of Brain in the Game, we look at how we should be thinking once we are out in front!

Check out this short, sharp, FOCUSSED episode and see how you can better prepare for competition. During a recent athlete and coach elite development clinic I observed a phenomenon that showed both athletes and coaches are more driven by what they don't want than what they do want. And it is having an impact on their ability to produce a good performance. During this clinic I conducted an experiment that showed athletes the importance of how their focus and their choice in words have a direct influence over their ability to perform.

Building effective performance strategies that last Athletes and Coaches strive for consistency in performance. We know in order to be successful we must perform on a consistent basis. This is what makes champions. However few really understand the mental process required to achieve such consistency. There are four stages that must be met in order to have a complete and replicable behavioural performance strategy. Consistent preparation = Consistent performance. In this episode we explore "The Mental Processing Cycle" –⁠ a system whereby we can build a tailored strategy and ensure it is not only effective, it is measurable and also completely sustainable. So join me as I walk you through the four key stages and then download your own Mental processing cycle diagram. And if you have a young child who is learning this concept, I wrote a book that might help, available here https://amzn.to/3HFceXw

As the modern face of sport continues to evolve and with the innovations in science allowing our athletes to not only achieve younger, they are allowing them to stay in the game for longer. There is, however, still one demographic that has found it a less than smooth journey. Our female athletes! Our elite female athletes have arguably worked harder than most to be seen as serious and equal athletes in the eyes of the world. These determined women are sacrificing many of what we think as normal life choices in order to achieve. In this episode we are going to explore the benefits and the hindrances of being a mum athlete. So on this Mothers Day check out what being a mum/mom and an athlete is really like.

In this episode we are going to look at a less desirable aspect of modern day sport, one that is growing and unfortunately in some cases, defining an athlete's career. And that is the Voodoo parent. These are the small minority of parents on the sideline, who take it on themselves to battle with the athletes, the other parents, take it out on the coach and officials, and who are willing to continue the feuds on the sideline and online. Over the years there have been many initiatives to curb this growing aspect of sport, however little has been done to understand its longterm impact on the athlete. Today we are going to talk about just that –⁠ the impact on the athlete. So listen in as we open up the can on this touchy subject! Are you a Voodoo Parent?

Five lessons we can take from our sport and use in the "real" world. Too often we are told sport isn't a real positive influence for when we decide to grow up! However as a mind coach I have found that many of the lessons I learnt as an athlete have served me in my professional life. We just need to be open to look for them. So in this episode I hope to shift the way some view sport and the positive influence it can have on our development. So buckle up as we shift your perspective, add clarity to objectives and shake up those misunderstood years.

Looking closely at the flip-side of managing unsuccessful performance strategies: the unspoken mental and emotional pitfalls of success. As an athlete, we expend much of our physical, mental and emotional energy striving to succeed –⁠ to get to the top, believing that once we are there then we have made it… only to find once we do arrive in the winners circle the hard work required getting us there is dwarfed by the mental cost of keeping us there. Much of the strategic mental structure and deep-down tenacity required to get to the top of our sport is just a small percentage of what is required to fend off the internal mental and emotional demons we create that can rob us of our glory (and sustained career) in a flash. In this episode we identify some of the more common manifestations of this phenomenon and the true cost of them, and what we can do smarter to better manage and prepare ourselves for our time at the top. Preparing to manage our success is just as important as preparing to be successful. So sit back and listen as we explore some of the pitfalls and discover the bridges to overcome them.

In this episode I have a treat for you. I wanted to replay a recent interview I did on Make it Simple TV. Heather Porter and Andrew McCauley of Autopilot Your Business and I had a great discussion about key practical tips that work, not only for the elite athlete, but also for the elite business person too. This interview uncovers some current thinking on successful performance philosophies and the link between creating a successful athlete and a successful business person, rewards and momentum, team building and sustainable success - and the need for everyone to calibrate. So settle in and enjoy this deep yet playful chat.

When we hear the phrase "Time Management" it is normally in the context of business –⁠ either from our boss questioning the management of our time, or us observing others time (or poor time) time management and the equality that brings. However, as sport evolves and becomes more and more like a business, the coaching sphere has to become more professional. So the effectiveness and efficiency of athletes becomes more directly relevant to their success. So an athlete's practical ability to manage themselves and get the most out of each and every one of their sessions becomes more important. Ask yourself, if you are an athlete, how productive were you today? If you are a coach, is there a smarter way your athletes could be using their time? In this episode of Brain in the Game we will explore one form of Time Management that works. So start your stopwatch and take notes as we put athletes through the Smart Mind Time Management training.

We will be looking at the fast and dynamic shift in the coaching profession In this the first episode of the year, I share some of the observations I made in last year and current trend in the way coaching is going. This focal shift is leaving some coaches scrambling for their identity and holding on too tight. We understand the need for athletes to calibrate their performance, grow and evolve in order to stay current and at the top of their careers. The demand on coaches to also stay on the front foot and at the cutting edge of their profession, even in little league, is more prevalent today than ever before. So what are you waiting for? Check out Brain in the Game episode #29 to find out what you need to know about your role in the athletes development and what you can do to stay at the front of the pack.

[NEWS FLASH] Sport has changed! The world of sport today is a far cry from the world of sport 20, 15 even 10 years ago. Today it is a high pressure, high demand, high powered multi billion dollar industry and one that can deliver the greatest of highs and the thumping lows –⁠ all in the space of a weekend. And this rapidly changing face of sport is being driven by the ever increasing expectation of faster, stronger, more outstanding athletes willing to put their careers and lives on the line. As coaches, you think you are expected to have all the answers even before they have the questions; have all the knowledge and expertise at the drop of a hat. You can often feel vulnerable when you don't! (...not that you would let on...) As sport changes, so does the role of those who play an integral part in it. The increased use of “Support Specialist” in every day training is helping to share the load and add more quality to the athletes preparation. However ,with this increase in the team numbers comes some friction, as some coaches are finding it hard to let go of that I'm in charge mentality. In this episode of Brain in the Game we explore the positives and the negatives of building the entourage. So what are you waiting for? Find out what you need to know about your role in the athletes development.

Hypnosis is one of the fastest growing tools being used by elite and professional athletes to help overcome performance issues and build sustainability. Gone are the days of hypnosis being tarnished as a sideshow act, hidden in backrooms or seedy clinics. Today the elite of the elite are seeing it as the secret weapon in their competitive arsenal. Hypnosis was often thought of as something to anecdotally help people give up smoking or lose weight –⁠ an alternative (albeit un-scientific) approach to people's social issues. However as the science of human behaviour has improved, so has our understanding of how we can best influence the human brain. Hypnosis has surfaced as a key tool and it is gaining a groundswell amongst elite performers. This episode discusses how I use hypnosis within my mind coaching sessions and how we teach coaches to use their language more effectively.