Resilience in elite level sport Professor Jim McKenna Carnegie Faculty for Sport and Education, Leeds Metropolitan University

What we know about motivation [motive-action x energy] People motivate themselves Our energy flows from our strengths and values Talking helps others to tap into our energies [Some] Talking blocks or drains others’ energy Organisations succeed or fail, one conversation at a time Organisations succeed or fail, one conversation at a time People do NOT respond to reality, only to their PERCEPTION of reality

Resilience Links to ‘Broaden and Build’ theory of positive emotions (Frederickson 1998, 2001) The label given to ‘bounce-back-ability’ [coping] and personal growth (‘bounce-beyond-ability’) ‘…The process or capacity for successful adaptation in conditions normally associated with psychological dysfunction and low competence…’ (Fonagy et al., 1994) Growth perspective: Links to notions of capability and competence Transfer of adaptations Dr. Steve CobleyJohnAllanNickWattie Arabella Ashfield JonFinn

The aim is NOT to make the caterpillar a better caterpillar….

… but to turn it into a beautiful butterfly

PYD model of change

Hardship happens (grit): Resilience (the pearl) might result

Resilience results from combining the power of the positive with the negative

Sequences of coping Emotion-focused coping Problem-focused coping (PFC) Moving to PFC is supported by Meaning- focused coping

The ‘ordinary magic’ of becoming resilient A ‘socially constructed’ notion

Build their resolve Systems must create realistic, yet challenging, ‘tests’

Perfect is incomplete Problem-free is not prepared

Learning from Lizzie’s story Perfect is incomplete (brings ‘entitlement’), so recruit from groups with adversity in their background The severity of adversity you can handle Depends on the qualities of Depends on the qualities of your system your people

Responding to Adversity

Resilience More than recovery Only 8-20% exposed ‘convert’ to PTSD Only 8-20% exposed ‘convert’ to PTSD A common (grounded?) experience Many pathways (a process AND an outcome) Hardiness Hardiness Self-enhancement Self-enhancement Repressive coping Repressive coping Positive emotion and laughter Positive emotion and laughter

And it gets more complicated…. ‘Problems’ from within and beyond sport; they coincide; last for different (often long) periods

What makes junior to senior career transitions difficult? The development career transition model Wylleman and Lavallee (2003) See also Finn and McKenna (2010) IJSSC

What is RESILIENCE ? Score (1-10) 1 – not very good at this, 10 – very good at this I am compassionate and contribute to society I am compassionate and contribute to society I am empathetic I am stress hardy I establish realistic goals and expectations I feel in control of my life I feel special (not self-centred) and I help others to feel the same I learn from both success and failure I live responsibly based on considered values I use effective communication and interpersonal skills I use solid problem-solving and decision-making skills

Use powerful aids for balance…… Relying on money undermines ‘personal solidarity’

Some behaviours undermine others Weapons of self destruction

Sport/ Life events Growth opportunities System Person

Building Resilience: Links to ‘Super-compensation’ in training? Time Immediate response Current trained level Training impulse Short-term overreaching Recovery/ regeneration Supercompensation Reversibility

Options for Building Resilience Growth = Challenge + Support. Time

Find the bigger meaning