Mental Performance Unleashed

mentalperformance

Mental Performance Unleashed with Emily Heird is a podcast dedicated to helping attorneys and legal leaders operate like intellectual athletes. Coach Emily Heird brings evidence-based strategies from sports psychology and mental performance training to the legal industry, offering practical tools to manage stress, sharpen focus, and build sustainable success.

Episodes

  1. The Leadership Load: Managing the Mental Demands of Leading a Team

    12/19/2025

    The Leadership Load: Managing the Mental Demands of Leading a Team

    Episode Summary:   In this episode, Emily Heird unpacks the invisible weight of leading people—tracking skills, conflicts, and growth while shedding the “savior” mindset. She reveals energy drains (perfectionism, always-on availability, mental rehearsals) and real-time calm tools: deep breathing, anchor-and-adjust posture, compassionate responses. Emily shares delegation mastery (coach’s lens feedback, pre-approvals), decision-fatigue hacks, and a daily habit: movement to sharpen focus and release stress. Lead contagiously calm—your team feels what you project.   Key Timestamps:   00:01 - Show Introduction   00:30 - Leadership = Managing People + Psychology   01:30 - Shift Challenges: No Training, Imposter Syndrome, Indirect Wins   02:30 - Energy Drains: Savior Complex, Perfectionism, Availability Trap   04:00 - Real-Time Calm: Breath, Posture, Tone (Contagious Energy)   05:30 - Decision Fatigue Signs + Automation Fixes   06:30 - Delegate with Trust: Ownership + Coach Feedback   07:30 - Player-Led Teams: Pre-Decision Rules   08:30 - Empathy vs. Compassion (Validate + Support, Don’t Absorb)   09:30 - End-of-Day Release Ritual   10:30 - Daily Habit: Movement for Clarity & Stress Relief   11:30 - Closing & Call to Action   About the Show:   "Mental Performance Unleashed" equips high-achieving professionals—especially attorneys and leaders—with science-backed tools to sharpen focus, crush stress, and perform at peak under pressure. Emily Heird blends psychotherapy and elite coaching to deliver calm, clarity, and resilience that last.

    15 min
  2. Focus Under Fire: Training Mental Clarity in High-Stakes Moments

    12/05/2025

    Focus Under Fire: Training Mental Clarity in High-Stakes Moments

    Episode Summary:   In this episode, Emily Heird reveals how high-stakes professionals can keep composure when chaos hits. She explains the brain’s stress hijack (amygdala takeover, shallow breathing), signs of overload (negative self-talk, foggy decisions), and instant reset tools: deep breathing, pre-performance routines (breath + physical cue + mantra), and visualization. Emily shares pro strategies—batch tasks, automate choices, declutter workspace—to protect focus and beat decision fatigue. One takeaway: micro-meditations throughout the day build unbreakable calm.   Key Timestamps:   00:01 - Show Introduction   00:30 - Clarity = Emotional Control in Chaos   01:30 - Stress Hijack: Amygdala vs. Prefrontal Cortex   02:30 - Productive Stress vs. Overload Signals   04:00 - Tool #1: Deep Breathing (SEAL/Athlete Reset)   05:30 - Tool #2: Mental Rehearsal (Vivid Imagery)   06:30 - Pre-Performance Routine: Breath + Physical + Mantra   08:00 - Protect Decision Energy (Batch, Automate, 2-Min Rule)   10:00 - Workspace Tweaks: Declutter, Sunlight, Noise Control   12:00 - Leader Focus: Strategic Planning + Micro-Meditations   13:30 - Closing & Call to Action   About the Show:   "Mental Performance Unleashed" equips high-achieving professionals—especially attorneys and leaders—with science-backed tools to sharpen focus, crush stress, and perform at peak under pressure. Emily Heird blends psychotherapy and elite coaching to deliver calm, clarity, and resilience that last.

    16 min
  3. Imposter Syndrome in Law: How Attorneys Can Build Confidence and Overcome Self-Doubt

    10/28/2025

    Imposter Syndrome in Law: How Attorneys Can Build Confidence and Overcome Self-Doubt

    Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Emily Heird explores one of the most common challenges faced by attorneys and legal professionals — imposter syndrome. As a licensed psychotherapist and certified Mental Performance Mastery coach, Emily breaks down what imposter syndrome is, how it manifests among lawyers, and why the high-pressure, competitive nature of the legal field amplifies these feelings. She also shares practical frameworks and mindset tools attorneys can use to combat self-doubt, improve confidence, and sustain long-term professional growth and well-being. Key Timestamps: 00:01 – Introduction to the Episode 01:00 – What Imposter Syndrome Is and How It Appears in the Legal Field 03:15 – How Imposter Syndrome Differs from Normal Nervousness 05:00 – The Impact of Imposter Syndrome on a Lawyer’s Performance and Mental Health 07:20 – The “PROVE” Framework for Managing Imposter Thoughts 10:30 – Building Long-Term Confidence Through Daily and Weekly “Wins” Logs 12:15 – The “CALM” Method for High-Pressure Moments 15:25 – Shifting Focus Away from Self-Judgment in High-Stakes Situations 16:20 – How Mentorship and Firm Culture Can Reduce Imposter Syndrome 17:40 – Three Actionable Steps Attorneys Can Take This Week About the Show: “Mental Performance Unleashed” helps attorneys and legal leaders strengthen their mindset, enhance performance, and improve well-being in high-stakes environments. Hosted by Emily Heird, each episode explores proven psychological strategies and practical tools to help legal professionals operate at their best — both in and out of the courtroom. Mental performance coaching for lawyers and executives who are done with burnout. Find out exactly which 3 mental performance gaps are sabotaging your days. 10-minute assessment gives you data, not fluff. Start here: https://shorturl.at/W2nOy

    19 min
  4. What Lawyers Can Learn from Elite Athletes: Mindset, Recovery, and Performance Strategies

    10/10/2025

    What Lawyers Can Learn from Elite Athletes: Mindset, Recovery, and Performance Strategies

    Episode Summary: In this episode, Emily Heird, licensed psychotherapist and certified mental performance mastery coach, explores how attorneys can apply strategies from elite athletes to enhance performance, build resilience, and maintain well-being. She shares practical tips for sustaining focus, managing stress, integrating recovery, and achieving work-life balance. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How high-performing athletes and lawyers face similar pressures and mental health challenges. The importance of rest, recovery, and micro-breaks for sustained focus and productivity. How to create pre-performance rituals to enter “lawyer mode.” Mental fitness techniques like the red, yellow, and green light system, and the triple R reset routine. Strategies for emotional fitness: recognizing and responding intentionally to stress and anxiety. How to review your performance like athletes review game tape for continuous improvement. Tips for maintaining work-life balance through transition rituals. Defining personal success and creating a 90-day plan aligned with your principles. Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and parallels between athletes and lawyers 02:15 – Importance of recovery for high-performance work 05:00 – Pre-performance rituals for focus and confidence 07:30 – Mental exercises to enhance focus and resilience 10:00 – Emotional fitness strategies for handling pressure 12:15 – Reviewing performance like game tape 14:00 – Work-life balance and transitioning out of lawyer mode 15:30 – Defining personal success and 90-day planning 16:10 – Closing and resources About the Show: Mental Performance Unleashed with Emily Heird is a podcast dedicated to helping attorneys and legal leaders operate like intellectual athletes. Coach Emily Heird brings evidence-based strategies from sports psychology and mental performance training to the legal industry, offering practical tools to manage stress, sharpen focus, and build sustainable success.

    16 min
  5. Mindset and Motivation Strategies for Lawyers: How to Stay Focused and Energized in a Demanding Career

    09/26/2025

    Mindset and Motivation Strategies for Lawyers: How to Stay Focused and Energized in a Demanding Career

    Episode Summary: In this premiere episode of Mental Performance Unleashed, licensed psychotherapist and certified mental performance mastery coach Emily Heird explores the unique pressures facing lawyers and legal leaders. Emily explains how attorneys can adopt a “high-performance mindset,” balance intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and implement daily habits to prevent burnout. With practical strategies rooted in sports psychology and performance coaching, this conversation empowers lawyers to achieve business success while safeguarding their well-being. Key Timestamps: 00:01 – Show introduction 01:15 – Emily’s background and inspiration for launching the podcast 03:22 – What is a high-performance mindset for lawyers? 05:44 – Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation in the legal profession 08:12 – What to do when motivation fades 10:05 – Daily habits to boost energy and focus without caffeine or sugar 13:27 – Overcoming perfectionism in law practice 15:39 – How legal leaders can motivate their teams and prevent burnout 18:42 – Three quick actions lawyers can take today to feel more focused and motivated About the Show: Mental Performance Unleashed with Emily Heird is a podcast dedicated to helping attorneys and legal leaders operate like intellectual athletes. Coach Emily Heird brings evidence-based strategies from sports psychology and mental performance training to the legal industry, offering practical tools to manage stress, sharpen focus, and build sustainable success.

    18 min

About

Mental Performance Unleashed with Emily Heird is a podcast dedicated to helping attorneys and legal leaders operate like intellectual athletes. Coach Emily Heird brings evidence-based strategies from sports psychology and mental performance training to the legal industry, offering practical tools to manage stress, sharpen focus, and build sustainable success.