high-pressure situations

Tara VanDerveer has more wins than any other coach in NCAA basketball history. But as she says, motivating and leading teams isn’t about barking orders. Communication, she says, “It starts, number one, with listening.”

For VanDerveer, leadership isn’t about a power dynamic, but a collaboration between her and her team. “I can't do it by myself and they can't do it by themselves. But as a team, we can,” she says. From seeking opinions from her assistant coaches to connecting with players about life outside the gym, VanDerveer recognizes that championships are won through communication. “The relationships that you have with your players, the communication that you have with them, will determine your success as a coach,” she says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, VanDerveer and host Matt Abrahams explore more communication insights from on and off the court — being clear and concise, giving praise and positive feedback, and letting go of perfectionism.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Cardinal Profile: Website 
• Ep.102 Create Presence: How to Communicate in a Way Others Can Feel Website / YouTube 
• Ep.35 Leading From The Hot Seat: How To Communicate Under Pressure Website / YouTube 

Connect:

• Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
• Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Tara VanDerveer, former Stanford University basketball coach.

(00:00:59) Building Trust and Openness

Fostering an environment where players feel comfortable being challenged and pushing themselves.

(00:01:52) Communicating Under Pressure

Strategies for speaking clearly and concisely during crucial moments in games.

(00:05:24) Motivation and Focus

Motivating a team during challenging times and keeping them focused after successes.

(00:07:26) The Value of Routine

The value and impact of routines in practice and performance.

(00:09:01) Positive Feedback and Praise

Balancing constructive criticism with positive feedback to foster player growth.

(00:10:46) Taking Risks

Insights on taking risks in career and coaching strategies.

(00:12:56) Dual Role of Coaching

The dual role of a coach in ensuring both athletic and personal growth for players.

(00:14:11) Handling Turnover and Onboarding

Managing player turnover and integrating new team members.

(00:16:39) Managing Emotions

Techniques for staying calm and focused during high-emotion situations.

(00:17:55) Handling Mistakes and Staying Positive

Methods for helping players move past mistakes and stay focused.

(00:19:35) Equity in Sports

Addressing and advocating for equity between women's and men's sports.

(00:21:21) Final Three Questions

Tara shares how to accept praise, two communicators she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.

(00:26:30) Conclusion

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Does instinct trump expertise? Can playing poker improve your intuition? And why did Angela jump off of a moving trolley car?

• SOURCES:
  • Tom Brady, former quarterback for the New England Patriots.
  • Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.
  • Gary Klein, cognitive psychologist and pioneer in the field of naturalistic decision making.
  • Brock Purdy, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
  • Josh Waitzkin, former chess player, martial arts competitor, and author.

• RESOURCES:
  • "When and How To Sleep Train Your Baby," by Cleveland Clinic (2021).
  • "The ShadowBox Approach to Cognitive Skills Training: An Empirical Evaluation," by Gary Klein and Joseph Borders (Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, 2016).
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011).
  • "Conditions for Intuitive Expertise: A Failure to Disagree," by Daniel Kahneman and Gary Klein (American Psychologist, 2009).
  • "Dumb Ways to Die," by Metro Trains Melbourne (2009).
  • The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance, by Josh Waitzkin (2007).
  • Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions, by Gary Klein (1998).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).
  • "Daniel Kahneman on Why Our Judgment is Flawed — and What to Do About It," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).
  • "How to Make a Bad Decision," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).

The pressure. The expectations. The anxiety. If there’s one thing that many of us have in common, it’s the stress that can come from performing in front of others. In this week’s episode, we revisit our 2021 conversation with cognitive scientist Sian Beilock about why so many of us crumble under pressure — and what we can do about it. 

Don't forget to check out the other episodes in our You 2.0 series, including last week's show about how we can harness our sight to achieve our goals. Also, if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. Thanks! 

The pressure. The expectations. The anxiety. If there's one thing that connects the athletes gathering for the Olympic games with the rest of us, it's the stress that can come from performing in front of others. In this week’s episode, we talk with cognitive scientist Sian Beilock about why so many of us crumble under pressure –– and what we can do about it.

If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See how you can help at support.hiddenbrain.org. And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at news.hiddenbrain.org.