1. Psychological safety… or psychological confidence?
At a recent Virtual Roundtable, the conversation turned to how teams balance challenge and support for athletes. One motorsport team is rethinking the term psychological safety, aiming instead to build psychological confidence. Their wellbeing lead shared: “We make sure everyone has a voice in meetings—but we also introduce challenge to help people grow.”
Also, language matters. A performance coach in British varsity sport added: “We don’t talk about ‘challenge’ or ‘adversity’—we use words like ‘exploration’, ‘playing’, and ‘responsibility’.”
2. How do you cut through the noise around athletes?
Modern athletes increasingly seek support beyond sport and performance—so alignment across staff is crucial.
At our Sport Performance Summit in Philadelphia, Simon Rice, VP of Athlete Care at the 76ers, asked: “Has the athlete changed, or have we just missed it?” He believes it’s a 50:50 split—athletes are more informed, but that also brings more noise.
Trust is key. Players now want explanations, not just instructions. The Sixers engage early to understand what matters to each individual in critical moments. “Don’t shut things down—work with them to find solutions,” Rice said. But boundaries matter too: “Have your non-negotiables so they know where the line is.”
3. What does performance planning look like in international soccer?
At another recent Roundtable, Patrick Mannix, Senior Manager of Sports Science at US Soccer, shared how they build national team training camps around individual player needs.
Plans are shaped two weeks out, with players at the heart, once arrival times are confirmed. “We design at the team level, but we also zoom in on each player to safely integrate them into our environment,” Mannix explained.
The focus? Managing fatigue, not chasing fitness gains. “It’s about tapering and readiness—though we’re also supporting long-term adaptations where possible.”
4. How can you unlock the multiplier effect?
True alignment can supercharge performance, said John Bull, Director & Lead for High Performance Research at Management Futures, during a recent online presentation. “One person’s talent builds on another’s—the effect becomes exponential.”
To achieve this multiplier effect, Bull outlined five key alignment factors:
