The High Performance Podcast High Performance

In September Jake and Damian chatted to a number of sports guests, but the conversations were far from sport centred. Each guest offered great learnings from their lives, including creating culture, what makes a great leader and how to be more present everyday.
They reflect on the conversation they had with Ryder Cup legends Luke Donald, Sam Torrance and Paul McGinley about their leadership styles and why Paul and Sam didn’t pick Luke to be in their team in 2014. Jake and Damian discuss Will Still’s open and authentic leadership style.
Jake and Damian had an honest and emotional conversation with Steve Hansen, the previous All Blacks' coach, on the hidden cost of high performance. Another vulnerable discussion was had with Paralympian David Smith MBE, who is currently dealing with the effects of a rare and invasive tumour. With David they consider the true importance of life.
The conversations that took place this month were reminders to take a pause and try to stay present.
Listen to the episodes mentioned:
Will Still: https://pod.fo/e/1ea4ea
Steve Hansen: https://pod.fo/e/1ecdda
David Smith MBE: https://pod.fo/e/1ef288
Ryder Cup Roundtable: https://pod.fo/e/1f190f
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Damian takes a deep dive into how we can become better at prioritising.

Everyone lives a busy life and time management will play a useful part in taking back control over where you use the most energy. Damian explores four different types of actions and how understanding them will lead to a more productive use of time. These four actions are:

- Firefighting (urgent and important activities)
- Fire preventions (important activities)
- False alarms (urgent activities)
- Fire escapes (Non-urgent and unimportant activities)

Whilst exploring these actions, Damian suggests questions we should be asking ourselves to help understand and prioritise our goals.

“If you wish to know your future life, look to your present actions” - Buddhist saying

This is an open discussion about leadership, creating culture and what makes a winning team.
To mark the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, Jake and Damian host a roundtable discussion with current European captain, Luke Donald, and legends, Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance. As Team Europe Ryder Cup captains past and present, they offer a unique perspective on leadership, team culture, and the winning formula that defines this prestigious event. They debate what makes a good Ryder Cup captain and the ways they get the best attributes from their players.
Luke Donald shares his experiences under different captains and how this has now influenced the way he interacts with his players. He shares his key lessons from his first 13 months as captain, including battling imposter syndrome. Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance consider how they change the way they create a sense of comradery in the current digital age, in contrast to team meetings taking place in their captain’s bedroom back in 2004.
Paul and Sam reflect on their choice to not include Luke in their 2014 team. They share what went into this decision and what elements need to come together to create a winning team.
This Ryder Cup roundtable is a deep dive into the art of cultivating an open and communicative team, finding the delicate balance between talent and performing under pressure, and defining the legacy that extends beyond the competition itself. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this episode offers valuable lessons on what it means to lead, build culture, and win as a team at sport’s highest level.
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https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link

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A common thread that runs throughout the hundreds of conversations on this podcast is the idea of sacrifice.
In this episode, Jake and Damian explore what the price of high performance really looks like. Although success looks great on the outside, it can come at the cost of collateral damage and difficult decisions. Looking back on their conversation with Dame Kelly Holmes, when she shared the impact sacrificing her mental health to be at the top of her game had.
They reflect on their discussions with Stephen Hendry, Rylan Clarke and Sir Ian McGeegan on the consequences of their drive to success.
Episodes mentioned:
Eddie Jones: https://pod.fo/e/b7048
Dame Kelly Holmes: https://pod.fo/e/1abee
Jonny Wilkinson: https://pod.fo/e/9cca4
Stephen Hendry: https://pod.fo/e/c12f9
Rangan Chatterjee: https://pod.fo/e/115f19
Rylan Clark: https://pod.fo/e/15d984
Sir Ian McGeechan: https://pod.fo/e/da9c4
Richard Dannatt: https://pod.fo/e/c6a61

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Next Monday we will release a special Ryder Cup Roundtable, with golfing legends Luke Donald, Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance.

In this exclusive preview, Luke Donald discusses his choice of Ludvig Aberg for his Ryder Cup team, and Paul McGinley opens up on the difficult decisions involved in team selection. Paul and Luke explore, how they find the balance between a great player and someone who fits well within the team.

The Ryder Cup Roundtable will be available on the 25th of September 2023 on the High Performance Podcast.

Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP

“Paralysis taught me how to live”
This emotional conversation is an honest and vulnerable discussion about life, death and understanding our purpose.
In 2010, David Smith was given a life changing diagnosis: a rare, cancerous tumour was found in his neck. A focused athlete, previously competing in karate, running and bobsled, David aimed to put all of his energy into competing in the 2012 Paralympic games as a rower; “I didn’t have time for a tumour”. But, after having surgery on the tumour, David suffered a stroke. This was the start of a new life for David.
After multiple surgeries and a number of complications, David is now fully paralysed on his left side. Despite winning gold for Rowing with Team GB at the 2012 Paralympics, what really stands out is David’s appreciation for every moment, his resilience, and his deep understanding of what it means to really live. In the face of battling cancer and living with paralysis, David's unwavering commitment to his purpose and daily philosophy shines through. He shares the importance of embracing vulnerability and the preciousness of time.
A total of 6 major life-threatening spinal surgeries in 13 years, 6 weeks of radiotherapy and learning to walk after each operation meant his sporting career became more about staying alive than winning medals. David shares his profound wisdom with Jake and Damian, exploring how he is attempting to come to terms with death and how he finds strength in vulnerability.
We’re left with the core of David’s message: “I’m not scared of dying, I’m scared of not living.”
This was recorded in front of a live audience at Happy Place Festival, there may be some background noise.
Follow David's journey here: https://www.instagram.com/davidsmithmbe/?hl=en
Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP

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