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Hello everyone, and thanks for clicking through to the High Performance Digest – your definitive monthly sports performance newsletter from Leaders. Matthew Stone here getting the winter coats out the loft while the rest of Leaders team countdown the days to the Sport Performance Summit in November…
Please do keep sharing this link so all your peers and colleagues can sign up to receive this in their inboxes each month.
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🧠 5 QUESTIONS WE, AND OUR MEMBERS, EXPLORED LAST MONTH
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1. How can you unlock the multiplier effect?
Adaptability is no longer optional—it’s essential. At a recent Skills Sprint Session, Tim Cox, Director & Lead for High Performance Research at Management Futures, explored what it takes to lead through change. A topic that was also prevalent in this year’s Trend Report.
Referencing Darwin’s Origin of Species, Cox reminded us: “It’s not the strongest or smartest who survive—it’s those most adaptable to change.”
He outlined four key skills of adaptive leaders:
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- Spot the need for change
Don’t just keep doing what you’ve always done—recognise when it’s time to pivot.
- Master your response
Stay calm, think strategically, and scan ahead for what’s coming.
- Empower others to contribute
Invite ideas from inside and outside your team to shape the response.
- Lead the change
Spotting change is one thing—driving it forward is another.
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Read more about the qualities of adaptive leaders here.
2. Performance Anxiety or Body Anxiety?
At our Sport Performance Summit in Philadelphia, high-performance specialist Rachel Vickery shared a recurring issue from her physio days: young female athletes often misdiagnosed with exercise-induced asthma were actually experiencing anxiety.
“The relief was visible when we talked about body image, self-esteem, and self-worth,” she said. This led to her 2008 seminar series Growing Up in Lycra, which was aimed at female athletes and their parents.
Swimming Queensland adopted the program, transforming it into an educational DVD distributed statewide. Swimming Australia later scaled it nationally, involving former Olympians. The resource is still in use today.
3. The role of AI in learning
At a recent Leaders Virtual Roundtable, Vickery also led a discussion on how AI can enhance learning across performance environments.
One coach developer warned: “AI should support growth and creativity—not become a shortcut that makes people lazy.” Overreliance, they argued, risks stifling innovation.
The group flagged key limitations:
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- Poor accuracy in multi-speaker transcription.
- IP concerns and platform suitability.
- Bias in AI-generated outputs.
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Suggested solutions included:
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- Set clear parameters for use.
- Crosscheck across multiple platforms to create intellectual tension.
- Ask AI for counterarguments—not just answers.
- Use AI to track patterns over time and cut through the fluff.
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4. Psychology in Teams: Proactive, Integrated, and Strategic
“Sports psychologists can’t just sit and wait for work to come in,” said Darren Devaney (Ulster Rugby) during a Leaders Virtual Roundtable he co-hosted with Daniel Ransom (Manchester United Academy). Together, they explored how psychology can be better embedded across teams.
They highlighted three essential qualities:
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- Zooming In and Out
Psychologists must think systemically. “Is my intervention best aimed at an individual, a coach, the staff, or a group?” asked Devaney. Long-term impact comes from choosing the right level of influence.
- Vertical and Horizontal Influence
“An hour with a coach can shape how they work with 25 athletes,” said Devaney. Ransom added: “To embed psychology, others must adopt and apply psychologically-informed approaches.”
- Skilful Proactivity
“This place ran for decades without me,” said Devaney. “So I must be proactive—without triggering scepticism.” Ransom advised meeting people where they are: “If they’re sceptical, offer something they’re open to. Don’t push too hard too fast.”
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5. What’s the best new podcast out there right now?
It’s got to be Owen Eastwood’s new one hasn’t it? Storytelling, shared identity, team culture, and leadership in abundance. Dan Carter, Luke Donald, Wayne Smith, Kieran Read, and Pippa Grange as guests so far, too – some lineup! Take a listen to The Invincible Podcast if you haven’t already.
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Virtual Roundtable: Part 1 of a new Learning Series VRT on ‘Data & Innovation’ is on Thursday 23 October and is at a favourable time for both our Australian and North American members. All the info here.
Events: Less than a month until our flagship event of the year in London on 12-13 November at The Kia Oval. 300+ attendees, 75+ organisations, 15+ countries and 20+ sports represented. Fancy it? Come and get involved. All the info here.
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📖 OTHER THINGS WE'VE DIGESTED THIS MONTH
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🤝 GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD PLACES
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- Darren Burgess has been appointed Director of Performance at Juventus FC
- Meanwhile, Ian McKeown has left the Philadelphia Flyers to replace Burgess at Port Adelaide FC as General Manager High Performance
- Andy Flower named Head Coach at London Spirit in The Hundred
- Ross Wilson has joined Newcastle United FC as their new Sporting Director
- Mathew Inness has joined Essendon Bombers as Head of High Performance and Medical
- Marco Neppe joins Paris FC as Sporting Director
- Shad Forsythe appointed Head of First Team Performance at Sunderland AFC
- West Coast Eagles have appointed Phil Merriman as High Performance Manager
- Fabio Paratici has rejoined Tottenham Hotspur FC as Co-Sporting Director alongside Johan Lange
- Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra has been named USA Basketball Men’s National Team Head Coach
- Scottish Rugby has appointed Andy Rhys Jones as its first Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways.
- Zak Dempster appointed Chief of Sports at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe
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EXPAND THE LIMITS OF PERFORMANCE - JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY
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Membership provides access to resources that give organsiations the confidence their teams are developing the knowledge, network and skills that lead to more impactful performance solutions.
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Tuition House 27-37 St George's Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU, London, United Kingdom |
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