“The future of high performance lies in finding that balance between necessary interventions and player well-being.”
Rick Cost
What You will learn
- Learn how high performance is redefined in elite sports environments and why it’s more than just physical training.
- Discover the importance of domain knowledge in leadership and how high performance directors can effectively manage multidisciplinary teams.
- Gain insights into innovative, sustainable sports performance services and the best practices that support coaches, players, and staff.
- Understand the critical role of clear and direct communication in maintaining trust, resolving conflicts, and ensuring team success.
- Explore the challenges of integrating new technologies and interventions in sports while maintaining player well-being and reducing unnecessary stress.
Rick Cost, High Performance Director at US Soccer, discusses the role of high performance in elite sports and how it is being redefined. He emphasizes the importance of creating a high performance environment that is focused on clearly defined priorities, measured success, cooperation, and shared leadership responsibility.
He also highlights the key qualities and skills required for high performance personnel, including expert knowledge, communication skills, empathy, collaboration, attention to detail, motivation, and a cultural fit. Rick also discusses the challenges that can lead to unsuccessful environments, such as internal communication issues and unclear expectations.
Adam and Rick discuss the importance of communication and relationships in high-performance environments. He emphasizes the need for a common language and the ability to translate rationality into emotion. Rick also highlights the significance of trust, clear communication, and direct communication in resolving issues and achieving success. He shares his vision for the future of high performance, which involves simplifying the environment and focusing on high-impact innovations. Lastly, he talks about the importance of celebrating small wins and creating a sense of belonging within the team.
Rick Cost on LinkedIn
Listen here – Finding Small Wins Podcast:
Rick Cost: Redefining High Performance | Lessons from US Soccer
Key Takeaways
- Creating a high performance environment requires clearly defined priorities, measured success, cooperation, and shared leadership responsibility.
- High performance personnel should possess expert knowledge, communication skills, empathy, collaboration, attention to detail, motivation, and a cultural fit.
- Challenges that can lead to unsuccessful environments include internal communication issues and unclear expectations. Effective communication and relationships are crucial in high-performance environments.
- Translating rationality into emotion is essential for successful communication.
- Trust and clear, direct communication are key to resolving issues and achieving success.
- Simplifying the high-performance environment and focusing on high-impact innovations is the future.
- Celebrating small wins and creating a sense of belonging within the team are important for motivation and success.
episode timeline
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
02:46 Background and Career Journey
04:17 Managing Multiple Entities in US Soccer
10:15 Defining and Redefining High Performance
30:29 Challenges in High Performance Environments
32:20 The Importance of Communication and Relationships
36:29 Direct Communication and Issue Resolution
43:37 Simplifying the High-Performance Environment
51:39 Celebrating Small Wins and Creating a Sense of Belonging
