#35: What leaders get wrong about resilience with Dr. Mustafa Sarkar
Release Date: 01/04/2023
#50: Ask an Executive Coach with Dr. Eric Bean and Siana Sylvester
Coaching Through Stories
As the curtain falls on our fifth season, we're shaking things up with a Q&A episode. In this episode, Dr. Eric Bean and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Siana Sylvester will answer questions from listeners. Together they share their valuable insights on executive coaching, stress, flow, and silence. So, join us as we delve into these topics and persist on our path toward achieving high performance. Key Takeaways: We need truth-tellers in our lives. Stress management is a team sport. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. ...
info_outline
#49: Unlocking the Power of Adaptability with Ross Thornley
Coaching Through Stories
We tend to look at change from a linear rather than an exponential perspective. This point of view often leads to the feeling of anxiety and being overwhelmed by the change around us. This episode features Ross Thornley, the CEO and co-founder of AQai, a community of adaptability coaches aiming to transform how people and organizations adapt to change. Moreover, Ross is an author and keynote speaker on adaptability and the future of work. In this insightful episode, Ross helps us comprehend how fast change is happening and emphasizes the concept of viewing change exponentially. He also delves...
info_outline
#48: The high-achievers search for self-compassion with Dr. Shannon Baird
Coaching Through Stories
In this episode, discover how high-achievers explore self-compassion with Dr. Shannon Baird. The conversation explores finding balance between ambition and self-care, offering practical tips for cultivating a compassionate mindset amid ambitious pursuits. Dr. Baird emphasizes acknowledging personal limits while striving for success, providing valuable lessons for those seeking the perfect blend of achievement and self-compassion. Dr. Baird earned her Ph. D. at the University of Iowa in Sport Psychology after earning a masters and bachelors in Kinesiology. Dr. Baird has over 20...
info_outline
#47: Tragic Optimism Two Things Can Be True At Once with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
In this Coaching Through Stories episode, Dr. Eric Bean delves into a profound exploration of Tragic Optimism, challenging the idea that life's tragedies and optimism are mutually exclusive. Through thoughtful reflection, he reveals the ability to simultaneously acknowledge and embrace both elements. Dr. Bean shares insights on navigating the delicate equilibrium between despair and hope in our experiences. Additionally, he explores concepts such as cognitive defusion, tragic optimism, and the pursuit of self-improvement. Join us for this insightful conversation as we navigate the...
info_outline
#46: Getting out of Suckville - with Dr. Bhrett McCabe
Coaching Through Stories
As humans, it is our nature to dwell on our deficiencies. We focus on what we are missing and our shortfalls rather than appreciate the positive reality we are in. This behavior is what leads us to the sign that says Welcome to Sucksville. Today, we are with Dr. Brehtt McCabe, the Sports and Performance Psychologist for the University of Alabama Athletic Department and a trusted resource for amateur, collegiate, and professional golfers. Drawing on his experience as a champion athlete and his clinical training as a psychologist, he guides competitors in overcoming persistent challenges and...
info_outline
#45: Treasure Hunting High Performance with Dr. Jonathan Fader
Coaching Through Stories
How do you deal when someone approaches you with a problem? Do you tend to jump straight into a solution? In this eye-opening episode, we are with licensed clinical and high-performance psychologist Dr. Jonathan Fader, and we delve into the importance of understanding the person to address their situation. Dr. Fader is the co-founder and director of Union Square Practice and SportStrata, a company dedicated to offering sports and performance coaching services across different fields. He is also a keynote speaker, media personality, and author of Life As Sport, a book on the psychology of peak...
info_outline
#44: Wholeness At Work with Erin Rocchio
Coaching Through Stories
How should we value achievement? Is it worth prioritizing to the extent that we compromise our wholeness? This insightful episode features one of Evolution’s senior partners, Erin Rocchio, as we find the path to sustainable high performance while living with meaning and fulfillment. Aside from being a coach, Erin is also the author of Wholeness at Work: Free Yourself From Burnout for Good. She has worked with C-level executives and top companies, helping them cultivate teams that perform at a consistently high level. In this episode, Erin shares her experience of being an...
info_outline
#43: Break Free from Approval Addiction: The People-Pleaser's Journey with Dr. Eric Bean
Coaching Through Stories
Are you someone who is concerned about how others perceive you? Do you often prioritize others' needs over yours? Do you feel bad whenever you experience conflicts? In this solo episode, Dr. Eric delves into the behavior called people-pleasing. He discusses the signs of said behavior and how it can be unhealthy and counter-productive. If you are a people-pleaser, these might sound familiar to you. He also highlights the false beliefs that push individuals into people-pleasing behaviors. Moreover, he advises on how to mitigate this behavior and emphasizes the importance of gaining a clear...
info_outline
#42: Olympians perform with fear, so can you with Dr. Peter Haberl
Coaching Through Stories
In today’s episode, let us take a look at sports psychology from a different perspective and how we can integrate this into our daily lives. Today’s guest is Peter Haberl, a licensed psychologist working with elite athletes as a sports psychologist and a mental performance consultant. He was employed by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee since 1998, giving him a wealth of experience in sports psychology. He continues to work with U.S. National Teams and athletes, focusing on mindfulness and ACT-based interventions. In this insightful episode, Peter shares how his...
info_outline
#41: Rising together: Learn how to break habits that are keeping you stuck with Sally Helgesen
Coaching Through Stories
What habits get in your way at work? Are there any instances in the workplace that may be limiting you? Are you comfortable sharing your achievements and discussing how you specifically generated a result? Would you rather let your accomplishments speak for themselves? This habit of being reluctant to claim your achievements may resonate more with women. However, this episode is for everyone. Not only did these habits resonate with me, but I also became keenly aware of how our organizational structures can make it difficult for women to break them. Today's guest is best-selling...
info_outlineWhen you think of the word "resilience," what do you picture? Historically, it has meant the ability to withstand challenges and keep going. However, it can also be misunderstood to mean ignoring or suppressing negative emotions in order to seem strong.
This can lead to unhealthy habits of hiding or ignoring negative feelings rather than taking the time and care to properly address them. True resilience includes acknowledging and dealing with your emotions, not just powering through difficult situations.
Today, we are joined by Dr. Mustafa Sarkar, a leading expert in the study of resilience in both sporting and business settings. Dr. Sarkar is an associate professor of sport and performance psychology at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, and his research and consulting focuses on how high achievers thrive under pressure and maintain success and well-being, with a particular emphasis on resilience at the individual, team, and organizational levels. He also focuses on psychological safety.
As a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, Dr. Sarkar works with organizations such as Google, the Premier League, the English Football Association, and various international Olympic Committees to create environments and cultures that promote resilience and psychological safety. In this episode, we will learn about how Mustapha followed his own path into the field of sports and performance psychology, despite expectations from his family and friends. We will also discuss the role that the environment plays in influencing resilience and provide practical tools that individuals can use to build their own resilience. Mustafa is a skilled researcher and practitioner, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the depth and insight he brings to the topic of resilience.
Key Points:
- Resilience is not the sole responsibility of the individual but rather, the environment and relationships play a meaningful role in one’s resilience.
- Resilience can be situational and can vary over time; Resilience is not a stable construct but rather varies.
- Resilience is a capacity that needs to be trained, not just reliant on one’s experiences.
Episode Highlights
- [00:00] Introduction
- [01:27] Dr. Mustafa Sakar and his work.
- [06:47] The value of research and putting it into practice
- [09:36] Why Mustafa got into his career and work in sports psychology.
- [14:44] Balancing pressure and passion
- [19:42] Mustafa’s current motivations in his work and on making an impact
- [26:56] On resilience
- [32:08] Understanding resilience
- [37:21] The impact of resilience in an individual
- [42:30] Emotional experiences and how they affect one’s resilience and how perspective can help.
- [44:39] Leaders and how they can help build team resilience.
- [47:27] How leaders can balance challenge and support
- [51:02] The effect of one’s environment and how it can affect resilience, and what to do when present in a negative environment
- [58:33] Habits that matter the most for high performance: (1) consistency and (2) building self-awareness.