E48: Mastering Pressure and Paradoxes With Elite Performance Psychologist Jonathan Smith
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Ever wondered what Olympic athletes and high-performing CEOs have in common? In this episode, renowned performance psychologist Jonathan Smith reveals the secrets behind thriving under extreme pressure on the field and in the boardroom. Discover how self-awareness, paradoxical leadership, and genuine team trust can turn any group into a powerhouse. Whether you lead a sports team or a company, you'll take away actionable insights to help you and your team perform and feel their best every day.
Jonathan Smith is a performance psychologist, consultant, and lecturer whose career spans F1, GB sprint canoeing, Paralympic teams, and national rugby, badminton, and football associations. As managing director of adaptivemind, he translates what works in Olympic-level sports to public and private sector leadership and team development. Jonathan completed his undergrad, master’s, and PhD at Loughborough University, researching how others influence motivation and how individuals handle stress under elite pressure. He’s also served as a senior lecturer in sport psychology at Newman University, and today, he helps organizations balance performance, development, and wellbeing to get the best from their teams.
KEY TOPICS
The three-part optimization model: performance, development, and wellbeing in sport and work [04:00]
How self-awareness acts as the gatekeeper for personal and professional growth [09:27]
Why high-performing teams thrive on compassionate truth-telling—balancing candor and care [14:04]
Embracing paradoxes: how support, challenge, autonomy, and belonging drive team dynamics [21:27]
Performing under pressure can be learned. Recognize, release, and reset for peak performance [41:42]
Todays guest, Jonathan Smith, can be found online at:
Website: https://www.adaptivemind.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-smith-8185a747/
Your host, Dr. Bobbi Wegner, can be found online at:
Groops: https://www.joingroops.com/
Harvard Extension School Faculty Spotlight: https://youtu.be/zwLai-lu-pk?si=GpKNhtxVvTrS3-pu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbiwegner/