310 Risk Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Release Date: 03/20/2026
310 Risk Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Description Today, David Charlton explores another dynamic within the coach–athlete relationship: differences in risk orientation (a sub-measure of Mental Toughness). He discusses a common scenario in sport, a coach who prefers structure, routine and predictability working alongside an athlete who thrives on experimentation, creativity and challenge. While structured environments can provide stability and clarity, athletes high in risk orientation often crave variety, stimulation and opportunities to explore different solutions. When these two approaches collide, tension...
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309 Interpersonal Confidence: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David Charlton explores an often overlooked aspect of confidence in sport, interpersonal confidence. He discussed a common dynamic seen in sporting environments: a coach with very high interpersonal confidence working alongside an athlete who struggles to speak up. Highly confident coaches often communicate clearly and persuasively. They lead conversations, provide direction and bring strong conviction to their coaching. Yet when this confidence dominates the interaction, quieter athletes can become increasingly passive,...
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308 Confidence In Ability: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today, David Charlton explores a powerful but often misunderstood dynamic in sport: the highly confident coach working with an athlete who lacks confidence in their ability. At first glance, this combination might appear positive. A confident leader should inspire belief and clarity. However, when the balance isn't right, the relationship can unintentionally increase anxiety, self‑doubt and disengagement for the athlete. Drawing on Albert Bandura’s concept of self‑efficacy and Sophia Jowett’s 3+1 Cs coach–athlete relationship model (closeness, commitment, complementarity and...
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307 Achievement Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In part 4 of this mini-series, David Charlton explores a challenging but common sport dynamic: the high achievement-oriented athlete working with a low achievement-oriented coach. The athlete is organised, early, diligent, and constantly looking for ways to improvetechnical work, gym work, extras, metrics, and a “leave no stone unturned” mindset. But the coach may appear distracted, rushed, inconsistent, late, or disorganised and may find structured goal-setting and CPD stressful. When those worlds don’t align, athletes can feel unsupported, unwanted, and even inadequate,...
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306 Goal Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode (part 3) of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton continues his solo series exploring the 4Cs of Mental Toughness through the coach–athlete relationship lens. The focus this week is Commitment, specifically Goal Orientation, and a common challenge in sport: the mismatch between a highly goal-oriented coach and an athlete who feels overwhelmed, anxious or uncomfortable when targets are discussed. While goal-driven coaches bring structure, clarity and high standards, some athletes experience goals as pressure rather than motivation. Fear of judgement, developing...
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305 Emotional Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton continues in part two of his solo series exploring the 4Cs of Mental Toughness through the coach–athlete relationship lens. The focus this week is Emotional Control and a common but misunderstood dynamic in sport: the emotionally reactive coach and the calm, composed athlete. While passion and intensity are often seen as leadership qualities, strong emotional reactions, sarcasm or outcome-focused language can unintentionally create a fear-based environment. When athletes feel judged or humiliated, the brain’s threat...
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304 Life Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David begins a new eight-part solo series exploring how mental toughness shapes the coach–athlete relationship in sport. Today’s focus is Life Control — a part of mental toughness that influences whether people feel able to shape what happens to them, or whether life simply “happens” to them. David explores one of the most common and frustrating mismatches in sport: the high life-control coach and the low life-control athlete. High-life control coaches are driven, organised and solution-focused. They believe effort changes...
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303 Why You Think the Way You Do Under Pressure
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In part 2, David Charlton is again joined by Doug Strycharczyk from AQR International to explore how mental toughness shapes the way we make decisions especially when information is incomplete and pressure is high. Doug explains that confidence is not just about believing in your skills, but also about having the interpersonal confidence to work with others, challenge ideas, and avoid the trap of groupthink. In teams and organisations, those with higher interpersonal confidence are more likely to think divergently, question assumptions, and protect ethical decision-making rather than simply...
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302 Why You React the Way You Do Under Pressure
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In Episode 302 (Part 1) David Charlton is joined once again by Doug Strycharczyk, CEO of AQR International, to explore how mental toughness shapes our decision-making under pressure. Drawing on over 30 years of research and applied practice, Doug breaks down the 4C’s model of mental toughness and focuses specifically on Control and Commitment, two components that heavily influence how athletes, students, and performers respond when it really matters. A central theme of this conversation is that mental toughness is not judgemental. High or low scores on any dimension are not “good” or...
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301 Words of Wisdom – Collective Insights on Mental Toughness
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Happy New Year! This special compilation episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness brings together powerful reflections from multiple experts across sport, performance, and personal development. Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly underpins sustainable performance: self-awareness, authenticity, focus, and self-trust. A recurring theme throughout the episode is the importance of the internal narrative. The conversations we have with ourselves shape confidence, behaviour, and decision-making under pressure....
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Today, David Charlton explores another dynamic within the coach–athlete relationship: differences in risk orientation (a sub-measure of Mental Toughness). He discusses a common scenario in sport, a coach who prefers structure, routine and predictability working alongside an athlete who thrives on experimentation, creativity and challenge. While structured environments can provide stability and clarity, athletes high in risk orientation often crave variety, stimulation and opportunities to explore different solutions.
When these two approaches collide, tension can emerge. The athlete may feel restricted or bored, while the coach may view experimentation as reckless or unpredictable. Drawing on Sophia Jowett’s 3 + 1 Cs model of the coach–athlete relationship; closeness, commitment, complementarity and co-orientation. David explains how coaches can balance structure with controlled variety so that creative athletes stay engaged while maintaining clarity and purpose within training.
The episode highlights how strong relationships, open communication and thoughtful session design can help coaches channel adventurous mindsets into productive performance environments where curiosity and learning are encouraged rather than suppressed.
>> Key Takeaways
· Risk orientation reflects how comfortable individuals are with uncertainty, experimentation and challenge.
· When coaches prefer structure and athletes crave variety, training environments can feel restrictive or chaotic depending on one’s perspective.
· Balancing structure with opportunities for creativity and exploration keeps high-risk-orientation athletes engaged and developing.
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the other parts of this mini-series and our previous podcasts on the coach–athlete relationship:
Ep309 – Interpersonal Confidence – When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep308 – Confidence in Ability – When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep307 - Achievement Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep306 - Goal Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep305 – Emotional Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep304 – Life Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Connect with David Charlton
· Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub