DR. DAVID SCOTT: MENTAL SKILLS FOR SPORT AND BUSINESS
Gain a competitive edge in leadership as Dr. David Scott delves into the transformative role of mental skills, character, humility, and responsibility.
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In This Episode
In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. David Scott, a renowned expert in sport psychology. Known affectionately as Scotty, he takes us on a journey through his fascinating career in hockey specifically, which began unexpectedly when he stepped in as a replacement speaker at Roger Neilson’s Coaches Clinic. We get a glimpse into Scotty’s world and how he found his passion for helping athletes and professionals develop the mental skills necessary for success.
Our conversation kicks off with a lively discussion about the vital role of mental skills in both sports and business. Scotty shares valuable insights on the power of mental strength, emphasizing that it’s character, not just talent, that truly sets individuals apart. We delve into the importance of humility, resiliency, and mental toughness, as well as the fleeting nature of motivation. Scotty reminds us that true progress lies in focusing on the process rather than being solely driven by external motivation.
Prepare for a surprise twist! Scotty playfully drops a bombshell announcement, showcasing his playful and humorous side. This leads us to a thought-provoking exploration of how our mindset can either view challenges as burdens to endure or as exciting opportunities to embrace. We uncover the impact of our perspective on how we approach and overcome obstacles, highlighting the significance of a growth-oriented mindset.
Our guest, Scotty, takes us deeper into the psychology of success by shedding light on why rookies often outperform expectations. This sparks an engaging conversation about the dangers of rigid expectations and how they can hold us back. We shift our focus to the importance of having an internal locus of control and taking personal responsibility for our outcomes. Throughout the discussion, humility emerges as a common thread, reminding us of its vital role in leadership and personal growth.
Before we wrap up, Scotty jokingly addresses the challenge of being taken seriously, adding a light-hearted touch to the conversation. Our hosts, Dave and Emily, share their key takeaways, reflecting on the valuable insights gained from their time with Scotty. As we conclude this episode, we’re left with a renewed understanding of the critical mental skills needed to excel in both sports and business.
0-10 minutes
We start off the episode with an intro to David Scott (aka Scotty) and what he does. Scotty talks about how he got into this work—he was called in last minute to replace a speaker at Roger Neilson’s Coaches Clinic.
10-20 minutes
The group talks about mental skills and how strong mental skills is useful in both sports and business. They discuss mental strength, talent vs character, how important humility is, the importance of resiliency and mental toughness, and how motivation comes and goes. Scotty emphasizes focusing on the process.
20-30 minutes
Scotty makes a huge announcement (jokes—he’s always joking, isn’t he?). The group discusses seeing something as a threat and just wanting to get it over with versus treating it like a challenge and an opportunity. Mindset matters.
30-40 minutes
Scotties shares his ideas about why rookies do so well, which leads into a discussion about expectations and how they can sometimes hinder us—“we expect (this outcome), or else.” Scotty, Dave, and Emily talk about humility, the ‘internal locus of control’, and personal responsibility.
40+ minutes
Scotty jokes about being taken seriously. Emily and Dave share their takeaways.
Dr. David Scott
University of New Brunswick Professor & Expert in Sports Psychology
Dr. David Scott is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He’s an associate professor of sport psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
He completed a B.A.(Hons.) and a P.G.C. E. (teaching degree) at the University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and an MA in Sport Psychology, an MA in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Victoria, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
He teaches and does research in the area of sport and exercise psychology. Maclean’s magazine has named him as one of the most popular professors at UNB and the Globe and Mail profiled him as one of the outstanding professors teaching in Canada.
He has been a consultant with a large number of government departments and private companies in addition to being a sport psychology consultant with a number of teams and organizations including, the Vancouver Canucks, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Florida Panthers of the National Ice Hockey League, the Canadian Men’s National Gymnastic Team, Bowls Canada, the Canadian National Archery team, Swim Canada, and the West Indies Cricket Team. He is currently a consultant with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League, the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the Bermuda Cricket Team, and the Italian Olympic Ice Hockey Team.