Go the Distance - Stepping up to the mark

Stepping Up to the Mark

It’s very apt that our focus for Flock now turns to Stepping Up To The Mark and visualisation of the task ahead, particularly as the UK has taken its next step out of lockdown. The gears of many businesses are shifting up a level and so too does the focus of many of us in Flock who are taking on our own Everest challenge.

Our next webinar focused on ‘Stepping Up To The Mark’ follows our journey and understanding of the distinct parallels between endurance sports and the commercial world, and builds upon the lessons we’ve already gleaned about the endurance mindset and importance of building the right team.

We’re fortunate to again draw on the knowledge and experience of contributors who are at the fore of their field and top of their game, and who have been under pressure to perform when the global spotlight was gaping down on them.

The optimal state possible is believing and visualising yourself to be successful Dr Steve Ingham

Dr Steve Ingham looks at ‘How to visualise success when it matters most’. For many of us who have had businesses stalled by the pandemic, the return to a new normal means we must be geared up and in the right mindset to re assert and regain market share and the reputations we enjoyed up until the start of 2020. Steve, who joins us through our partnership with Speakers Corner, is one of the UK’s leading figures in sport and one of the world’s foremost performance scientists, and has been integral to the development of Team GB into an Olympic superpower.

My conversation with Mark Beaumont accentuates how grit and determination and having a plan really does pay off. Our chat considers everything from nutrition and logistics to teamwork and overcoming unplanned scenarios. Mark is the world record holder for cycling the globe in 79 days, a man who thinks nothing of 10-hour interval training sets on the bike and who is used to cycling 240 miles consecutively over two and half months.

Another person used to being in the limelight and having to perform under pressure is Paul Barber, Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman at Brighton & Hove Albion. Along with Amy Kilpin - Triathlete, who races at middle distance (half ironman) and Anni Hood - CEO and Founder of Well Intelligence -we talk all things visualisation and achieving a positive mindset when embarking on a major event.

Amy’s poignant comment: ‘A lot of people that are seeking success have a negative bias so they tend to be quite self-critical and thereby hold themselves back’ will ring true for many of us as we reopen our businesses and certainly gear up to climb 29,029 feet for charity.

The knowledge we are given from our speakers really does ease the realisation that ‘Stepping Up To The Mark’ is a culmination of our longterm commitment in working towards a goal and having confidence in the work we have put into it to achieve and exceed.

I for one am imagining the Collection to be filled with guests, laughter and happy and contented faces. As a team we’ve done it before, and we can do it again thanks to the support of our friends of Flock, loyal members, guests and business partners.

— Danny Pecorelli

Stepping up to the mark Dr Steve Ingham Belief on the start line | How to visualise success when it matters most Steve’s own curiosity towards self-improvement as an athlete led him to train and specialise in performance science and offer his support to others in their quest to achieve excellence. In his career he has supported more than 1000 athletes, 200 of which have achieved World or Olympic medal success.

Steve’s presentation reveals the background to the UK becoming the home nation for the London 2012 Olympic Games and how the face of the games, Jessica Ennis-Hill, dealt with the world’s gaze. He looks at the pressures the home team were faced with as London took the gauntlet for the greatest games staged and how the hopes of the nation and the world’s media focused in on the individual competitors.

During his presentation Steve reflects on the efforts and compromises each element of the coaching team made to ready EnnisHill for the competition in which she carried the expectations of Great Britain.

Each member of the team specialised in individual disciplines including javelin physiotherapy, medicine, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and physiology. As the Olympics talisman, Ennis-Hill was inextricably linked as the face of the games; her image greeting passengers, fellow competitors, and coaches as they arrived from overseas into Heathrow: the pressure was on even before the games were even open.

Steve reveals how mindset training and visualisation became a key element as team Ennis-Hill aligned their plan and tactics to achieve gold. With a plan in place that included the minutiae of the minutes between events, a focus was given and assurances were put in place to enable Ennis-Hill to fully concentrate and prepare herself effectively for each of the seven heptathlon disciplines.

Key learnings from Steve • Authentic confidence comes from understanding any threats and working to address them • Assurance comes from reminding yourself of all that you and the team has achieved to get to this point • Following a proven plan for the winning moments gives you ownership and belief • When it matters most having a single focus gives you clarity

Steve’s message is achingly very clear: Visualisation is the key to success - if you think you will hit the first hurdle you will. If you see yourself on the podium and you stick to the plan - you will end up on that podium.

To see the webinar click here

Dr Steve Ingham was brought to you by Speakers Corner, a UK & International Speaker Bureau. Speakers Corner are currently working with their clients to plan their virtual, and in-person, event programmes, so to discuss Steve or any of the speakers they work with, please contact Dan Risner on 020 7607 7070 or email dan@speakerscorner.co.uk

Flock’s 12-week Go the Distance series has been designed to equip individuals with the building blocks for an endurance mindset in business and personal life.

Past sessions include: • The Human Potential For Endurance • Importance of Building The Right Team and Having Shared Goals

Throughout the programme the insights from world class endurance performance specialists have helped share the synergies between high performance sporting teams and business.

Putting endurance to the test, many of Flock are learning the skills to conquer their own Everest with a virtual cycle on Zwift of 29,029 feet. Building their individual mettle while also working in teams to conquer their challenge, they are all raising money for their chosen charity.

To be part of the journey, to catch up on the content or to become a part of Flock, register at www.exclusive.co.uk/flock