In this official Q&A with Richard Mann, we learned what it takes to be a top performance coach, how to manage self-doubt and what Richard learned from his service in the Royal Marines and the UK Special Forces. In a sincere and perceptive interview, it was a pleasure to talk with such a motivational voice on high performance and to gain insight into the influence of psychology in business.

How Did Being In The SBS Shape You As A Person?

Roxanna: “You are a top performance specialist with great drive and determination - how did being in the SBS shape you as a person?”

Richard: “I think we're shaped by the experiences that we have in life, and that shapes everything that we do. And so when you've been through the experiences you've been through with people, whether or it's high altitude, free falling, jumping out at night or on operations somewhere, that support with each other is the thing that shapes you as a person, expands your limits of possibility and potential.”

“I think that's gone on in other areas of my life too really. You can draw on those experiences, use them to be most effective in what you do.”

How would you describe your own unique leadership style?

Roxanna: “In previous interviews with leadership speakers, like Ollie Ollerton, we have heard of many unique guidance styles. Given your impressive service in the Royal Marines and Special Forces, how would you describe your own leadership style?”

Richard: “What I'm really trying to do is look at the potential of people, people within the team, and draw upon their experiences, their insight, and their knowledge. They may see something from a different angle than I would see. Ultimately, as a leader, you have to make a decision but to be able to draw upon the collective rather than as an individual. Being fixed on that is crucial.”

What personal experience sparked your interest in performance coaching?

Roxanna: “You have tried and tested the strategies that allow people to perform well under pressure, what personal experience sparked your interest in peak performance coaching?”

Richard: “So for me, it was founded in sport originally and early days of playing football. And again, I would see, even in those early days as a youngster, seeing how much the mental game would affect my performance. I could either be the best player on the pitch or not performing at all. And then that led into martial arts and boxing.”

What role does psychology play in business?

Roxanna: “Mental skills in performance are key for confidence and focus, I imagine that psychology plays a great role in business too…”

Richard: “I think it's huge and I think it's a missing component. I say to people that we can train three things we can train our craft, we can train our body and we can train our mind. People often focus on the technical, the tactical, and even the physical. But the mental component for me underpins all of that and is the access point to that.”

What must business leaders do to instil confidence in their employees?

Roxanna: “With confidence being considered an important factor for all members of a business, what must business leaders do to instil confidence in their employees?”

Richard: “Clarity is inherently linked to psychological wellbeing. If people are in a space of psychological wellbeing, happy people are going to do good work in simple terms.”

“And so, building people's confidence is giving them the trust to be able to take on incremental challenges which are not beyond their skill set, but give them enough opportunity to push their boundaries. As they start to push boundaries, then they start to realise their own potential.”

How do you personally manage self-doubt?

Roxanna: “Everyone faces challenges when performing and sometimes question their ability - How do you personally manage self-doubt?”

Richard: “I think ultimately, when we talk about confidence and ability to perform, for me it's being able to positively talk to ourselves in a way that's grounded in reality. We've had these experiences, we've pushed the boundaries and we're able to draw upon these experiences and talk to ourselves, our inner coach, to really help ourselves to perform. That's being able to trust ourselves to adapt in the moment. In those moments where we're trying to seek certainty, we can trust ourselves to adapt. That's our ability to move away from those self-doubts.”

Book Richard Mann

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