Staffordshire and Loughborough Uni

Wings to Thrive

Dr Jamie Barker and Jamie Gillman

Thriving and being resilient in a performance setting is underpinned by reflecting on past experiences, considering  strengths and effectively applying coping resources.

Effective coping is about robust self-confidence, a focus on controllables, strong support networks, and developing a recipe for success.

In the lead up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Jamie B and Jamie G encouraged Paralympic athletes to use their individual life stories to develop thriving and resilient behaviours. Their Tipping the Balance performance framework helped the athletes to highlight individuality, diversity, and strengths.

Join Jamie and Jamie to explore evidence-based applied techniques, strategies and tactics that can be used to promote thriving and resilience in everyday life such as:

  • Applying the Tipping the Balance framework to everyday work and life situations
  • Exploring our resilience time-lines
  • Understanding our confidence recipe
  • Focusing less on uncontrollables
  • Considering our ‘phone a friend’ social support networks
  • Developing a recipe for success

Dr Jamie Barker is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University and was the Lead Sport Psychologist to the Rio 2016 Great Britain Cerebral Palsy Football Team. Jamie Gillman is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University and a PhD researcher in group functioning and group effectiveness in sport and performance settings.