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To the dissatisfaction of a lot of leaders out there, there's no definitive, cookie cutter way to manage and get the best out of people. But to Dr. Fergus Connolly, that's actually a good thing. And he should know a thing or two about developing people: he's been the performance coach for franchises across all sorts of pro sports, like the Boston Bruins, the Carolina Panthers, Liverpool FC, The Australian Football League, and the Welsh National Team Munster Rugby. He's also consulted for companies and military special forces group around the world and authored dozens of books on the subject of coaching like The Process: The Methodology, Philosophy & Principles of Coaching Winning Teams, Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science, and 59 Lessons: Working with the World's Greatest Coaches, Athletes, & Special Forces. Fergus shared some of his keen insights with us and how traditionally thought of “challenges” are actually strengths that coaches need to unlock for their people, so they can flourish as individuals to make a high performing team. If you want to build a high-performing team, this is an episode you're not going to want to miss. So, with that…let's bring it in!
The Game Changer: the art of possibility thinking is all about those people who obsessively generate ideas. The people who cannot switch off the creativity switch. The Game Changer is always opening the doors of creativity. If you are a Game Changer, idea generation is all about embracing your uniqueness. Simon Phillips TCM is your strengths coach in this video helping your capture the art of possibility thinking and champion the "What if?" question. Game Changers are often perceived as misfits and yet their intention is to bring energy and enthusiasm and, most importantly, imagination to the process of ideation. From a life coaching perspective, a Game Changer's existence and uniqueness starts at the initial value problem and working through the information architecture to arrive at propositions that everyone sees as possibilities for the future. Whether you are growth hacking or keen on exploring the content strategy for personal development, this short video can help. Are you a Game Changer?
Fergus Connolly, Ph.D. is a coach, teacher, mentor, author, speaker and student of success and resilience. Dr. Connolly has worked with some of the world's leading sports, military, and business teams including Verizon, the San Francisco 49ers, University of Michigan, Liverpool FC and multiple Special Forces units. Fergus has applied performance science with leading sports, military, and business teams. He is the only coach to have full times roles in every major sport, including soccer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers), professional and college football (San Francisco 49s and University of Michigan), rugby (Welsh national team) and elite military units. Dr. Connolly is the author of the bestselling book "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science." He is one of the world's foremost human potential thought leaders and influencers. Dr. Connolly is happy to share his personal story of success, authenticity, and the power of empathy among leaders. In this episode… What's keeping you from reaching your goals? Why are you letting that stand in your way? In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Fergus Connolly and Dr. Russell Strickland get into your head!Since your are unique and special, Dr. Connolly figures that your approach to your dissertation should be, too. It's all about being intentional, discovering your "why," and then being true to that truth. But, as special as you are, you're not perfect. Coming to terms with this fact early in the dissertation process is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your sanity...and your graduation. According to Dr. Connolly, becoming a doctor is all about learning how to learn. It doesn't mean you won't continue to make mistakes...just don't make the same mistakes twice!
I invited this week's guest on the show because I love, love, love sport; I love playing it, I love watching it. I'm in complete awe of high performing athletes and teams, who show up, work hard, have a strong mental game, pull off impossible feats and my guest, helps them do that! Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world's foremost human potential thought leaders and influencers. Author of the bestselling book "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science" Fergus has applied performance science with leading sports, military, and business teams. He is the only coach to have full time roles in every major sport, including soccer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers), professional and college football (San Francisco 49s and University of Michigan), rugby (Welsh national team) and elite military units. We talk about how he works with high performing teams, how he builds trust and rapport quickly, what he's thinking/feeling when he starts working with amazing athletes, the common challenges amongst sporting and business teams. We also talk about purpose and he shares 3 questions that can help you be content and passionate in what you do everyday and also how he prepares for upcoming speaking engagements. I loved listening to Fergus share all of his experiences and how we can hold the mirror up and answer questions, to help us gain clarity and move forward. Click here for show notes Click here to join The Flipchart community on Facebook Shhh... I'm releasing 5 secret podcast episodes over 5 days to help you book out your facilitation business, BUT you need to register to get access.Head on over to bookedoutfacilitator.comSupport the show (https://buymeacoffee.com/leannehughes)
Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world's leading experts in performance. Fergus has worked with leading CEO's, professional sports teams, elite special forces units and athletes around the world. He is the author of "59 Lessons - Working with the Worlds Elite Coaches, Athletes & Special Forces" and "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science", the first book to present a holistic philosophy for all team sports. Fergus Connolly has been Director of Elite Performance for the San Francisco 49ers, Sports Science Director with the Welsh Rugby Union, Performance & Operations Director for University of Michigan Football. Learn more at fergusconnolly.com Maxwell Maltz "Psycho-Cybernetics" discussed within this podcast. https://www.psycho-cybernetics.com
Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world’s leading experts in performance. Fergus has worked with leading CEO's, professional sports teams, elite special forces units and athletes around the world. He is the author of "59 Lessons - Working with the Worlds Elite Coaches, Athletes & Special Forces" and "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science", the first book to present a holistic philosophy for all team sports. Fergus Connolly has been Director of Elite Performance for the San Francisco 49ers, Sports Science Director with the Welsh Rugby Union, Performance & Operations Director for University of Michigan Football. Learn more at fergusconnolly.com Maxwell Maltz "Psycho-Cybernetics" discussed within this podcast. https://www.psycho-cybernetics.com
Dr. Fergus Connolly (@Fergus_Connolly) is one of the world's foremost human performance thought leaders and influencers. Author of the bestselling book "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science", Fergus has applied performance science with leading sports, military, and business teams. He is the only coach to have full time roles in every major sport, including soccer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers), professional and college football (San Francisco 49s and University of Michigan), rugby (Welsh national team) and elite military units.
Dr Fergus Connolly is one of the world's foremost human performance thought leaders and influencers, and has applied performance science with leading sports, military, and business teams. He is the only coach to have full times roles in every major sport, including soccer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers), professional and college football (San Francisco 49s and University of Michigan) and rugby (Welsh national team). Fergus' experience can make your team Game Changers. In the episode we talk about why he got into sports performance, who were his role models growing up, why it is important to use critical thinking when using social media, the initial ideas behind his book Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science (US), (UK), (Canada) and finally the practical application of performance science. In Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science, he shows how to improve performance with evidence-based analysis and athlete-focused training. Through his unprecedented experiences with teams in professional football, basketball, rugby, soccer, Aussie Rules, and Gaelic football, as well as with elite military units, he has discovered how to break down the common elements in all sports to their basic components so that each moment of any game can be better analyzed, whether you're a player or a coach. “He despises the term Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) but instead it should be called Long Term Personal Development" (LTPD) 4 things an athlete need: Know who they are? (An identity), have a purpose, someone to love or love them and something to believe in. You can learn more about Fergus via his website fergusconnolly.com and by connecting through his Twitter. For more information about Mind Set Game connect with us on Facebook @mindsetgamepodcast For more information about James Roberts (the host of the podcast), visit fitamputee.co.uk and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
In this episode, David is joined by Fergus Connolly, PhD. Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world’s foremost human potential thought leaders and influencers. Author of the bestselling book "Game Changer - The Art of Sports Science" Fergus has applied performance science with leading sports, military, and business teams. He is the only coach to have full times roles in every major sport, including soccer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers), professional and college football (San Francisco 49s and University of Michigan), rugby (Welsh national team) and elite military units. David and Fergus discuss some insightful concepts and issues in the world of athletic development and sports science. Full shownotes: www.synapseperformance.ie/podcasts/episode77
Curious what goes on behind-the-scenes in elite organizations at the highest levels of sport? What do teams do to foster the long-term health of their players as well as the sustained success of their programs? How much do teams invest in sports science and how is that spending measured against their win-loss record? What lessons can be taken from performance coaching and applied to other facets of life? Fergus Connolly is the only applied sports scientist to have worked full-time across every major field sport from the English Premier League to the National Football League to International Rugby. Committed to implementing the most innovative protocols and technologies in human performance, Fergus serves as a performance director and sports science mentor, keynote speaker, and team sport auditor for clubs all over the world. Most recently, Fergus was the Director of Performance for the San Francisco 49ers and the University of Michigan football program. He is the author of Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science, and his new book, 59 Lessons, will hit bookshelves this summer. Today, Fergus shares his journey to becoming an elite coach and consultant for teams like the 49ers, offering advice for aspiring coaches around hard work, honesty and humility. He discusses his holistic approach to performance coaching and the most surprising health-related issues he has encountered in high-level sport. Fergus explains why teams should focus less on finding the best coaches and more on hiring the right coaches who are willing to collaborate, and he speaks to the investment teams make in the long-term health of their players. Listen in for Fergus’ take on the most important lessons he has learned in performance coaching and how those principles apply to other areas of business and life. Topics Covered [1:48] Fergus’ advice around becoming a premier strength and conditioning coach Find best people in industry to intern with/work under Hard work, humility and brutal honesty with self [6:02] Fergus’ approach to performance coaching presented in Game Changer Pulls together psychology, nutrition, strength training, etc. Defines ‘winning’ as continuous improvement of own performance [9:07] How long-term health is sometimes ignored in professional sport Some teams cut corners for sake of winning Unaware of proper sleep, recovery and training volume [14:05] The most surprising health-related issues in professional sport Poor quality of food available to players Stress on training volume vs. quality [18:00] Fergus’ approach to addressing overtraining Best players often rank at bottom on strength tests Focus on steady rate of increase/decrease [21:13] The most challenging situations Fergus faces as a performance coach Help players reach optimal performance for particular day Difficult conversations around choosing RIGHT over BEST [25:43] How teams invest money in player health and longevity Best teams adopt tech as settler rather than pioneer Less allocated to player development in US Management of resources more important than overall budget [31:10] The pressure to perform based on a team’s investment in sports science Difficult to correlate with win-loss record Tactical, technical, physical and psychological components [34:58] Fergus’ take on the professional sports with the best balance Basketball, AFL Culture of organization impacts ability to be fit AND healthy [38:55] The #1 lesson Fergus has learned in performance coaching Everyone makes mistakes, must adopt humility [40:30] How the principles in 59 Lessons translate to other areas Apply to corporate world, military and elite athletics Learn More About Fergus Fergus’ Website Fergus on Twitter Resources Game Changer by Fergus Connolly and Phil White
Sustained excellence over time. Isn’t that what we’re all working toward? In every aspect of our lives—from sport to our personal and professional lives—maintaining a high level of performance for the long-term is the ultimate goal. So, what can we learn from the simple approach of teams like the Golden State Warriors? Phil White is an Emmy-nominated writer and frequent contributor to The Inertia, SUP the Mag and Canoe & Kayak. He collaborated with Dr. Fergus Connolly on Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science, a new release that walks us through an athlete-centered model that promotes long-term health and longevity. He is also the co-author of Unplugged, The 17 Hour Fast and the forthcoming Flight Plan with Dr. Kelly Starrett. Today Phil outlines the holistic approach to team sports laid out in Game Changer. He covers the importance of looking at stats in context and considering the technical, tactical, psychological and physical aspects of competition. Phil discusses the concept of the ‘simple principle,’ explaining how a consistent philosophy leads to sustained excellence over time. Listen in for Phil’s insight on how the ideas in Game Changer can be applied beyond sport to help you achieve at the highest level in all aspects of your life. Topics Covered [1:09] The impetus for Game Changer Fergus’ background in sports science Create athlete-centered model for winning Focus on longevity, long-term health Stuck in more-more-more approach [6:08] The holistic approach laid out in Game Changer Technical, tactical, psychological and physical Break game into moments, explore in context Work backwards to identify problem Set up realistic situations in practice Execute skill at appropriate volume [10:49] How to achieve several goals over time Pair quantitative with qualitative analysis Start with simple philosophy, draw line to single stat [13:57] Phil’s take on the Golden State Warriors Team should be able to coach game Not gimmick but reflection of system [17:07] The value of using a qualitative lens Stats in isolation not useful Tackles per game vs. positional awareness [20:42] The concept of the ‘simple principle’ Narrow philosophy down to one word (i.e.: joy) Avoid complicated training plans Keep principles consistent, adapt tactics [25:28] Why three goals per match is enough Energy spent on chaotic game scenario Slows down instinctual decision-making [27:06] The target audience for Game Changer Anyone involved in team sports Translates to work, boundaries in personal life High level of performance sustained over time [29:53] The story behind The 17 Hour Fast Co-author’s best friend diagnosed with brain cancer Outlived prognosis with fasting to slow spread of cancer cells Other metabolic diseases traced back to diet Fasting helps reset, reexamine relationship with food [34:06] The significance of 17 hours Obtainable number Ease leads to adoption [35:38] Phil’s next book, Flight Plan Co-author realized travel threw off patterns 14-step protocol (nutrition, mobility, sleep) Survive, thrive despite frequent flying Learn More About Phil Phil’s Website Phil on Twitter Phil on Facebook Resources Game Changer by Fergus Connolly and Phil White The 17 Hour Fast by Frank Merritt and Phil White Unplugged by Brian MacKenzie, Andy Galpin and Phil White Mobility|WOD
Whether you’re a player striving to elevate your game, a coach looking to lead your athletes to victory, or a weekend warrior with the desire to win, everyone wants to improve their performance. If you want the slight edge to help you rise above the competition look no further than the new #RenegadeRadioPodcast with Dr. Fergus Connolly. Dr. Connolly is the University of Michigan Football Performance & Operations Director. He previously worked as a performance expert with several NFL teams and Major League Soccer clubs. In his new book, “Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science,” Dr. Connolly tackles the misconceptions about sports science and provides a comprehensive view of team sport performance. In this episode we discuss the ideal training schedule for the average person looking to get jacked. Fergus explains why data can be useful, but obsessively tracking everything can be problematic. We delve into the difference between maximal and optimal strength, what makes a great coach, how to select the best training and recovery methods and much more. For tips to help improve your performance, straight from one of the world’s leading performance experts, listen as we discuss: Show notes for this and every episode can be found at www.JasonFerruggia.com This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. With 75 ingredients working together to help with eleven different areas of health, there is no better all-in-one supplement than Athletic Greens. Detoxify your body, boost your energy, and strengthen your immune system. Get all your vital nutrition in 30 seconds or less by going to http://www.AthleticGreens.com/Jay to claim your Renegade Radio special offer. This episode is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic. They make a powerful, brain-boosting coffee with the active ingredient, Lion’s mane mushroom (also known as the “smart mushroom”). Lion’s Mane has been used by Buddhist monks for better focus during meditation for years. Four Sigmatic is gut friendly and great for those who get an upset stomach from regular coffee. It gets you focused but not jittery, and contains less than half the caffeine of regular coffee. Four Sigmatic comes in handy packets that you just mix with hot or cold water, and takes just a second to prepare. Go to http://www.foursigmatic.com/jay and use the code JAY to get 15% discount.