Human Performance

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Channel • 2 Shows

Self-Improvement

Self-Improvement

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Entrepreneurship

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06/29/2024

EP013 Understanding Personality

Peak Performer is a reader-supported publication. Sign up here to get new articles, episodes and other content to your inbox. For one-to-one coaching, go here. To hire me for talks and workshops, get in touch here or post a comment on any article. Unlock the secrets of personality in this webinar recording, "Understanding Personality." Dive into the science and psychology behind what makes us who we are. Whether you're in leadership looking to enhance team performance, a manager aiming to improve people skills, a parent looking to understand your children, or you're simply curious about the intricacies of human behaviour, this webinar is for you. Join me for this enlightening session that explores some of the core theories of personality, covering over 150 years of research and practice. You'll gain valuable tools to understand yourself and others better, paving the way for more effective communication and stronger relationships in both work and personal life. This webinar is suitable for people seeking to get better results in their life and work. Stop acting on impulse and being a slave to automatic responses. Understand why you think and act the way you do. Learn to understand personality and let yourself and others off the hook. Your life will be better for it. Peak Performer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The webinar "Understanding Personality" delves into the intricate and multifaceted study of what defines us as individuals. It explores various theories and perspectives developed over more than a century of dedicated research, shedding light on the complex interplay of traits, behaviours, motivations, and emotions that shape our identities. Peak Performer is a reader-supported publication. Sign up here to get new articles, episodes and other content to your inbox. For one-to-one coaching, go here. To hire me for talks and workshops, get in touch here or post a comment on any article. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

06/29/2024

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1h 4m
12/12/2024

EP016 Understanding Anxiety: Its Role in Sport and Workplace Performance

I’m Larry Maguire, a work psychologist and lecturer. Welcome to this edition of Peak Performer, where we discuss the mental skills of peak performance. If you like this work and find it valuable, consider sharing this episode with a friend and posting a comment. Many thanks for your support! Welcome to this episode of Peak Performer. Today, we will explore the intricate and often misunderstood topic of performance anxiety, a challenge that affects not just elite athletes but amateurs, workplace professionals, students, and performers in every walk of life. Joining me is Dr. Dylan Colbert, a sports and performance psychologist with a background in behavioural science and human intelligence. Dylan works with sports people, teams, and people in work and business, helping them master the psychological skills required for peak performance. In our conversation, we explore the origins and consequences of anxiety, how it manifests itself depending on the individual and context—the playing field, the boardroom, or the classroom—and how we can better prepare and manage ourselves in response. Dylan shares his insights into why we feel the way we do under pressure and highlights the common misconceptions that often worsen our experiences. We also break down practical, evidence-based techniques for managing anxiety and stress. Pre-event preparation to ensure you step up with confidence, In-the-moment strategies that help you stay composed when it matters most, and Post-event reflections using a structured framework to learn, grow, and build resilience. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a professional looking to deliver in high-stakes workplace situations, or someone navigating personal challenges, you can get actionable strategies you can use immediately. We also discuss the critical difference between self-criticism and constructive self-evaluation, showing how shifting your perspective can transform your mindset and performance. Major Talking Points * Understanding Anxiety: Causes and Misconceptions – (00:04:00) * Manifestations of Anxiety in Athletes and Professionals – (00:07:02) * Catastrophising: How Thoughts Escalate Negatively – (00:13:01) * Evaluating Performance vs. Criticism: The Difference – (00:20:33) * Stress: Its Role in Performance and Misinterpretations – (00:23:27) * Practical Strategies to Manage Performance Anxiety * In-the-Moment Techniques (Breathing, Relaxation) – (00:28:27) * Pre-Event Preparation (Meditation, Relaxation Practices) – (00:33:45) * Post-Event Processing (Four Cs Framework) – (00:36:48) * Bridging Psychological Concepts to Everyday Practice – (00:41:04) * Closing Remarks and Resources from Dr. Colbert – (00:42:55) Contact Dr. Dylan Colbert * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdylancolbert/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdylancolbert/ * Insta: https://www.instagram.com/drdylancolbert/ * Email: drdylancolbert@gmail.com Peak Performer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

12/12/2024

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45 min
08/08/2024

EP015 Five Mental Skills You Need To Succeed

Welcome to this week’s edition of the podcast. If you like what I’m doing here, share this episode with a friend, and post a comment. Many thanks for your support! Welcome to episode 15 of Peak Performer. Today, we're exploring the mental skills that elite performers use to excel in their fields, whether it is business, education, sport, the workplace or elsewhere. The skills we’ll discuss in this episode can be developed and refined by consistent practice, like any other skill. These mental skills can help to regulate our psychological and emotional state, prepare us for big events, and help us cope effectively with the unforeseen. At Peak Performer Podcast, I bring you the latest research and practical advice on performance psychology, mindset, and motivation. Our goal is to provide you with the tools and techniques that top performers use to stay at the top of their game. Each episode is packed with expert interviews, scientific insights, and actionable tips to help you unlock your full potential. > Read this in-depth article for more on psychological skills Episode Content Introduction to Psychological Skills Training Psychological Skills Training (PST) is a systematic practice of mental skills aimed at enhancing performance and increasing enjoyment across various domains, from sports to business. This training involves techniques for self-regulation, mental preparation, and recovery, making it essential for high-level achievement. 1. Cognitive Restructuring Cognitive restructuring involves changing negative thought patterns into positive ones. It's about reframing experiences to manage stress and improve performance. By altering our automatic responses, we can cultivate a more constructive mindset. How to Apply It: * Accept that things will not always go according to plan * Replace self-defeating thoughts with positive affirmations. * Practice reframing negative experiences in a supportive environment. 2. Self-Regulation Self-regulation is the ability to control one's emotional and physiological responses to stressful conditions. This skill is crucial for maintaining optimal arousal levels and managing anxiety during high-pressure situations. How to Apply It: * Partner with someone who will hold you accountable. * Maintain a balanced diet and take short breaks to manage stress. * Practice deep breathing exercises. * Meditate daily for 15 mins. 3. Mental Rehearsal Mental rehearsal involves imagining and feeling a performance scenario in advance to prepare mentally, emotionally, and physiologically. This practice engages the same neural pathways as actual performance, helping to build confidence and reduce anxiety. How to Apply It: * Visualise your routine in detail, focusing on the process rather than the outcome. * See, hear, smell, taste, and feel as you would in that actual situation. * Use mental rehearsal as part of your daily preparation routine. 4. Self-Talk Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue we have with ourselves. Positive self-talk can enhance performance by reinforcing confidence and focus. Negative self-talk can have a detrimental impact on performance. How to Apply It: * Be mindful of your internal dialogue and replace negative thoughts with encouraging ones. * Use short, positive cues during practice and performance to boost morale. * When things don’t work out, speak to yourself as you would a friend. 5. Goal Setting Effective goal setting guides actions and maintains motivation. Rather than rigidly pursuing specific outcomes, focus on process-oriented goals that enhance daily performance. How to Apply It: * Establish your values - know what you stand for. This is your anchor in the world. * Set SMART, values-based, and process-focused goals. * Stay present and concentrate on improving 1% each day rather than fixating on long-term outcomes. Conclusion Psychological skills are vital for achieving peak performance in any field. By incorporating cognitive restructuring, self-regulation, mental rehearsal, self-talk, and goal setting into your routine, you can enhance your resilience, focus, and overall performance. Remember, the journey to excellence is continuous, and these skills will help you navigate the ups and downs along the way. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Peak Performer Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and stay connected for more insights and strategies to help you reach your peak. Until next time, keep pushing your limits and striving for greatness! Discount Code: QADISC30 for 30% off Work & Business Coaching Get free Resources Book a coaching session Subscribe to the newsletter Subscribe on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

08/08/2024

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31 min
07/31/2024

EP014 Is The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Personality Pseudoscience?

Welcome to this week’s edition of the podcast. If you like what I’m doing here, share this episode with a friend, post a comment. Many thanks for your support! The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most popular personality tests in the world. Developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers and based upon Carl Jung's work, it categorises individuals into 16 distinct types based on four dichotomies: Introversion vs Extraversion, Sensing vs Intuition, Thinking vs Feeling, and Judging vs Perceiving. Despite its widespread use in a variety of settings and its apparent utility (Pittenger, 1993)1, from corporate team-building to personal self-discovery, the MBTI has faced significant criticism from the scientific community. Although influential, Jung's work is mainly considered speculative (Mayer, 2005)2 and not subjected to rigorous scientific testing. His typology was derived from clinical observations rather than systematic research, making it a weak foundation for a personality assessment tool. In contrast, modern personality psychology relies on empirical studies to validate theoretical constructs and measurement instruments. Read the full article I am a registered test user with the British Psychological Society. I provide tests and test administration in workplace settings in areas such as leadership, personality, motivation, ability, intelligence and others. Find out more about assessments and how they can help you in your career and business. Get Evidence-Based Psychometric Assessments Get free Resources Book a coaching session Subscribe to the newsletter Subscribe on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

07/31/2024

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31 min
07/21/2025

Day 23: Emotional Agility

In her book, Emotional Agility, psychologist Susan David tells the story of a British battleship that was on manoeuvres in heavy weather. While navigating through the fog, the lookout in the crow’s nest reported a light directly ahead. The ship's captain ordered the signalman to send a message: “We are on a collision course. Advise you change course 20 degrees east.” A signal came back: “Advisable you change course 20 degrees west.” Annoyed, the captain instructs the lookout to send a stronger message: “I’m captain of HMS Defiant, a Royal Navy battleship, change course immediately” The response: “I’m a seaman second class. Change course 20 degrees west.” Now furious, the captain insisted: “We are a battleship! I order you to change course!” The reply was calm and final: “We are a lighthouse, Sir.” Emotional agility, as defined by Susan David, is "about loosening up, calming down, and living with more intention. It’s about choosing how you’ll respond to your emotional warning system." It represents a sophisticated approach to dealing with our thoughts, emotions, and stories that differ from reality. Emotional agility encourages a mindful, values-driven response to life's challenges. At its core, emotional agility is about separating ourselves from, yet acknowledging our emotions without being dominated by them. It's recognising that all emotions—even difficult ones like anger, fear, or disappointment—contain valuable information and energy that can be harnessed constructively rather than avoided or suppressed. The Four Key Components of Emotional Agility Susan David's research identifies four essential components of emotional agility: * Showing Up: Face your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours willingly, with curiosity and kindness rather than judgment. Instead of avoiding difficult feelings, emotionally agile people acknowledge them as data, not directives or confirmations of truth. * Stepping Out: Detach from and observe your thoughts and emotions to gain perspective. David refers to this as "the space between stimulus and response", where we can choose how to proceed rather than being driven by knee-jerk reactions. * Walking Your Why: This means connecting with your core values—what matters most to you—and using them as a compass for decision-making. Emotionally agile people align their actions with their values rather than with transient emotional states. Remember Session 8 in the series? * Moving On: The final component involves making small, deliberate tweaks to your mindset, motivations, and habits in alignment with your values. This isn't about dramatic change, but rather about achieving sustainable progress through consistent, incremental adjustments. Many business and management writers and experts suggest that emotional agility, or emotional intelligence, is about strategy. This flawed thinking assumes that every action is designed and preconceived with the strategic goal of manipulation. It represents what Erving Goffman referred to as surface-level acting. It’s where business leaders put on a show to attempt to convince everyone that they are something other than what they really are. This is not what we are talking about here. Mental Skills Basics Course Suffering stress and anxiety is not a prerequisite for success in self-employment–there's a better way. Mental skills provide you with the means of coping effectively with difficulty and achieving your goals. I created the Mental Skills Basics Course to introduce business leaders, self-employed individuals, freelancers, consultants, and small business owners to the psychological and emotional skills associated with success. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

07/21/2025

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10 min
09/04/2025

Day 30: Final Day of Mental Skills

Over the past number of weeks, we have taken a deep dive into the nine mental skills of peak performance. But performance is not only about objective achievement and attainment of reward and recognition; it is also about mental well-being. The nine mental skills we explored are; * Mindset serves as the foundation, encompassing your fundamental beliefs about ability, challenge, and growth that shape how you interpret every experience. * Motivation provides the energy for action and direction for sustained effort. It’s what gets you up in the morning and moves you through the day. * Goals Setting creates the structure and accountability necessary for systematic progress. Based on your core values, goals provide the prospect of achievement. * People Skills enable effective collaboration and influence, recognising that peak performance rarely occurs in isolation. It allows you to understand yourself and others. * Thinking Skills involves managing your internal dialogue to support rather than undermine confidence and focus. It is how you speak to yourself on an ongoing basis. * Mental Imagery harnesses your mind's capacity to rehearse success and prepare for challenges through vivid mental simulation. It is the preparation of your organism to perform at its best. * Anxiety Management transforms nervous energy from a performance barrier into a competitive advantage. Anxiety is a natural occurrence, but how you interpret and respond to it matters. * Psychological Flexibility represents the development to respond to challenging emotions in a way that maintains your effectiveness under pressure. It is to be malleable rather than rigid. * Focus allows attention to be directed towards optimal performance without distraction and serves as the gateway to flow states where peak performance feels effortless and natural. Get the full 30 Days of Mental Skills Series here [All Sessions] The Mental Skills Basics Course If you have been trying to achieve something but have failed. If you keep falling into the same holes and can't get out. If you've been struggling to get ahead for too long and want change, then this course is for you. In this self-paced course, you'll learn the mental skills of peak performance. (You’ll also get a free first draft of the book “The Mental Skills Handbook”) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

09/04/2025

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17 min
04/17/2022

EP008 Self Determination Theory: How Motivates Really Works

Self-determination is an important concept when considering the human motivation to work and perform. Self-determination theory (SDT)1 explains human motivation, and according to Edward Deci, it is “the energy for action. It gets us up in the morning and moves us through the day”. Motivation allows us to make personal choices based on survival, integration, and work with others and allows us to feel we have control over the direction of our lives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

04/17/2022

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34 min
04/19/2022 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

I Could Have Been A Window Cleaner

My neighbour called to me today, said something fell into her garden and it could be mine. So I went and had a look. There was a bloke in her porch cleaning the glass in the front sliding door and I thought, I could do that for a living. Why am I not cleaning windows?

04/19/2022

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9 min
06/13/2025

Day 5: What Motivates You

Let's discuss motivation. Self-Determination Theory says that human beings are active organisms with evolved tendencies toward growth, mastery, and integration of new experiences into a coherent sense of self. These natural tendencies toward growth and development are automatic, however. The social context is an essential factor, and it can either support or thwart our development. And so, there exists a dialectic relationship between the organism and its social context. This is the basis for SDT’s predictions about human behaviour, experience, and development. It is formed aroun d three basic assumptions; * Autonomy: The human need to self-regulate our experiences and actions * Competence: Our basic need to feel effective and masterful in a given discipline * Relatedness: Our feelings of social connection and meaningful relationships SDT speaks of psychological “nutriments” for healthy human development and functioning, and we realise these through the fulfilment of basic psychological needs for Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness. To the extent that these psychological needs are satisfied on an ongoing basis, people develop and function along healthy lines. However, if these psychological needs are thwarted, people will more likely experience the absence of well-being and sub-optimal functioning. The darker aspects of human behaviour, such as psychopathology, prejudice, and aggression, are understood as reactions to thwarting of basic psychological needs. In other words, where our basic psychological needs are not supported, we develop compensatory or defensive strategies. We literally have to fight for psychological survival. In overly controlling, rejecting, critical, and negative situations, we are more likely to become self-protecting, self-focused, defensive, aggressive, and antisocial. Ryan and Deci's theory of self-determination refers to these basic psychological needs as proximal satisfactions and says that they are, in the most profound sense, the essence of human thriving. The research suggests that in all social contexts, be that work or play, where there is support for our satisfactions, we express our curiosity, creativity, productivity, and compassion for others to the highest levels. Essential Mental Skills Is Launching Soon The Essential Mental Skills Course is launching soon. It is a structured introduction to mental skill development and contains lecture videos, slides, resources, a workbook, and kicks off with a live group Zoom orientation call. This course brings together what I’ve learned from my 30 years in business, 10 years in psychology, lecturing and private practice experience in a single system to help you achieve better mental health and optimise your performance in work, sport or business. Find out more and join the waiting list here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peak.humanperformance.ie

06/13/2025

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16 min
04/19/2022 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

How We Spend Our Time

I'm reading from the introduction to James Suzman's book, Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time.

04/19/2022

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7 min

Peak Daily is the short mid-week podcast from organisational psychologist Larry Maguire. Content is less structured than full-length episodes on Peak Performer and takes on a more working-class philosophy. On Peak, we talk about the hands-in-the-dirt feelings about daily work, its meaning and purpose and where it's all leading. Episodes are about 15 minutes. To get these episodes free, join Peak

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Larry Maguire is an Organisational Psychologist specialising in the behaviour and performance of human beings at work. Audio from Human Performance consists of free full-length podcast episodes on Peak Performer and shorter member-only episodes. Full-length audio can be listened to at the weekends, and shorter content, usually 15 mins or so, can be heard mid-week.

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Human Performance

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Top Shows

EP013 Understanding Personality

EP016 Understanding Anxiety: Its Role in Sport and Workplace Performance

EP015 Five Mental Skills You Need To Succeed

EP014 Is The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Personality Pseudoscience?

Day 23: Emotional Agility

Day 30: Final Day of Mental Skills

EP008 Self Determination Theory: How Motivates Really Works

I Could Have Been A Window Cleaner

Day 5: What Motivates You

How We Spend Our Time

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Human Performance

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