Rob Kendall...

It’s intriguing that professional sports coaches constantly talk about the importance of mental strength, and yet business leaders rarely seem to refer to it. How come? Surely this quality is equally relevant in both domains.

In collaboration with Dave Fulton and Jim Chaplin from Leading Edge Sport, and Rob Archer from Bloom Psychology, we are kicking off a piece of research to understand the phenomenon of mental resilience. In our view, this is somewhat distinct from the idea of mental toughness, which implies being able to overpower our mental frailties. Our hypothesis is that mental resilience centers on being able to flexibly manage our relationship to what’s happening in front of us.

In any sport, there are examples of people who are lauded as the most naturally gifted of their generation, and yet don’t make their mark on the highest stage. And yet others, perhaps with less raw talent, seem to have the belief, stamina and support to make the most of their ability. We are searching for practical insights that can be applied within the professional sports world, and which can also be contributed into the business community and other walks of life.

Thanks to Leading Edge Sport, we are starting a dialogue in 2010 with current and retired professionals from a range of different sports. Having filled my early years with the usual dreams of professional sporting prowess, without the slightest notion of a back-up plan, it will doubtless be a fascinating and humbling experience. Not least, I may be able to get a better understanding of where it all went wrong for me.