Elite Sport and Leadership

Elite Sport and Leadership: Mindset, Culture and Sustainable Performance uses the high-stakes world of elite sport as a lens to examine how mindset, identity, culture, and human behaviour shape leadership and success. Drawing on narrative case studies from athletes, coaches and teams, it expands into deeper explorations of key leadership themes, from attention and decision-making to resilience, identity and team dynamics.

Divided into four parts, the book first looks at how individuals manage decisive moments under pressure, then examines the subtle accumulation of excellence through small, deliberate improvements. The third section delves into the psychological weight of identity and expectation, while the final part explores how team culture and leadership architecture influence long-term success. Drawing on examples from iconic athletes like Lewis Moody, Simone Biles, Usain Bolt and Clive Woodward, it provides strategic insights that apply to both hospitality and corporate leadership.

Elite Sport and Leadership: Mindset, Culture and Sustainable Performance will help you to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of performance beyond tactics, focusing on mindset, resilience and culture.
• Learn from real-world examples of elite athletes and their leadership strategies, applicable to business and hospitality contexts.
• Develop stronger frameworks for leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics in high-pressure environments.
• Reflect on the psychological and cultural forces that drive long-term success, beyond short-term results.

Due for publication Oct 2026