Ep 32: The Psychology of Performance in the Workplace

Guest Bio

Dr. Athey is a licensed clinical and performance psychologist and national leader in performance psychology, leadership, crisis intervention, and developing nontraditional mental health and wellness programs for organizations. For over 20 years, she has consulted with NCAA Champions, Olympians, professional athletes, C-Level executives, and US Special Forces as well as served as a leader in scaling wellness and performance services.

As Chief Wellness Officer at the University of Arizona, she developed and deployed a campus-wide peer psychological first aid program in response to the COVID pandemic as well as scaled systemic wellness services. She was also the sport psychology consultant for the 2012 Rose Bowl Championship Football Team at the University of Oregon and served on the Human Performance Team for the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group. In contributing to the field as a performance psychology subject matter expert, Dr. Athey has delivered over 130 publications and presentations on high performance, strengthening teams, and wellness solutions and was named a Fellow in the Association for Applied Sport Psychology as national leader in high performance and wellness.

Follow Amy Athey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyathey32

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Dr. Amy Athey, a renowned performance psychologist, discusses her extensive career and expertise in the field. Dr. Athey, who has consulted with Olympians, professional athletes, and high-level executives, shares her journey from being a collegiate athlete to specializing in performance psychology. She highlights the evolution of the field, noting how it has grown from being a niche area focused on crisis intervention to a vital component of high-performance teams in sports and other sectors.

Holistic wellness: Dr. Athey explains the importance of a holistic approach to performance, which applies to sports teams and corporate teams. These elements of wellness contribute to energy levels, mental clarity, and emotional stability. Maintaining overall physical health is crucial for sustaining high performance and resilience. When each individual is in their best state, the team as a whole performs better. Some elements of holistic wellness include:

Sleep: Ensuring adequate and quality sleep is crucial for maintaining cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.

Nutrition: A balanced and healthy diet supports physical and mental health, providing the energy and nutrients needed for optimal performance.

Spiritual and Mental Health: Mental well-being is essential for managing stress, maintaining focus, and achieving resilience in the face of challenges.

Physical Strength and Condition: Physical fitness can help prevent injuries, aids in recovery and helps sustain energy levels and focus. 

Work-Life Balance: Balancing work demands with personal life is important for preventing burnout and maintaining overall life satisfaction.

Dr. Amy Athey emphasized several ways in which sports psychology principles can be effectively applied to the workplace, including these three performance tenets:

1. Wellness is the foundation of performance: Emphasizes the importance of wellness, including active recovery, sleep, nutrition, supplementation, hydration, mental health, and spiritual growth, as the basis for optimal performance.
2. What got you here won't keep you here: Highlights the need for continuous growth and adaptation, including emotional regulation, attention, mistake management, quality decision-making, and high-performance teaming, as individuals and organizations face dynamic conditions.
3. Relationships are the agent of change: Stresses the critical role of relationships in both overcoming challenges and celebrating successes, as they provide essential support and connection.

Learn more about Athey Performance:

atheyperformance.com‍