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For over 20 years Simon Hartley has helped athletes and business people throughout the world to get their mental game right. He has worked with gold medallists, world record holders, world champions and multiple championship winning teams.
Simon has worked at the highest level of sport, including spells in professional golf, premiership football, tennis, motor sports, and with British Olympians. Since 2005 Simon has also applied the principles of sports psychology to business, education, healthcare and the charity sector.
In addition Simon has become a highly acclaimed author and award winning professional speaker.
2:35 Simon�s start in sports psychology
The influence of his sports psychology professor
His fascination with how athletes think and feel
Why there is an increased popularity in sports psychology
4:50 Mental toughness and composure
The 3 elements of mental toughness: Tenacity, resilience, and composure
The importance of � sticking to the basics �
What he learned from studying an ultra-marathoner
9:30 Drive and motivation
Which motives are unhealthy and unsustainable
The only sustainable driver : Passion
Exploring his own limits
The benefits of stretching beyond your comfort zone
14:15 Nature vs nurture
Research on which one has the most impact on character
How our character evolves over time
Understanding that our character is developed by the choices we make: � It�s like flexing a muscle �
19:55 Bad habits and unhealthy motives
The importance of building a solid foundation
Why losing feels worse than winning
The real feelings and meanings behind winning silver or gold
24:00 The body-mind connection
The power behind placebo drugs
The benefits of exercise on mental health and clarity
Understanding and managing our moods for better performance
27:05 Mental training and visualization
How to engage your mind during a physical experience
Using rest time for mental practice
29:15 Pushing through discomfort
Simon�s personal challenge: Running 1000 miles in a year and doing 1000 press-ups per month
Knowing when to tolerate pain and when to stop
Listening to your intuition
Developing tenacity
32:10 Coaching strategies
The importance of understanding performers as individuals
Why coaches need to let go of their own ego
33:30 Negative voices and outlook
Owning negative voices as our own
Understanding and sculpting our core beliefs about ourselves
Why we give up and how we learn how to keep going
39:00 Advice to youth
Approaching exams: Remember what your job is as a student
�Just get back to what you can control�
42:45 Performance
The basics of performance: Focus, confidence and motivation
The performance paradox: The more you focus on goals, the less likely you are to achieve them
Paying attention to process instead of the outcome: Why it�s important to watch the ball instead of where it should land
48:40 Performing under pressure
The benefits of focusing exercises
Practising by performing under more stressful situations gradually
52:55 Prep talks
Why prep talks don�t have a lasting effect: The most important motivator is internal, not external
How to build solid confidence
Hoping vs believing that you�ll perform well
Building up evidence that proves you�ll do well
57:35 Lessons learned for business
�Do the basics really well consistently�
58:35 Character
The difference between personality and character
Issues that arise when there is a conflict between one�s internal world and what is expressed externally
How and why to recruit players based on character traits
1:03:00 Writing fiction
Simon�s challenges while writing a book of fiction
Drawing on motivation, tenacity, resilience, and identity to continue the work
1:06:30 Hiring based on character traits
Attitude vs ability
With the right attitude, anything can be taught
1:08:40 Great teams
The basic principles behind great teams:
A strong shared purpose
Shared standards and expectations
Appreciation for every individual on the team
Drawing strength from diversity
Brutal honesty
Learning constantly
1:11:15 Honesty and transparency within a team
Taking responsibility for one�s own behaviour
The importance of confidence � in ourselves, in the relationship, in each other
1:12:50 Stronger together
What is required for great team performance
The example of the Red Arrows
1:15:15 Leadership
How to spot a leader
The power of leading through influence
Why we need leaders at all levels of the organization
The team captain�s role
1:18:35 Remote teams
Why leadership and team principles are the same for remote teams
How to construct a collective identity
1:22:00 Arts sector teams
The challenge of being collectively creative for teams in the arts sector
1:23:15 Notable teams
Formula 1 pit crew
Yacht racing crews
Red Arrows
Animal teams
1:25:15 The future of sports psychology
Moving towards artificial reality, games and technology
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The 1% Podcast brings together the 3Ps of People, Professions and Performance. We chat to top-class performers from eclectic areas (sport, business, politics, art etc.) to extract the tactics, tools and routines you can use to get 1% better and achieve success.
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