Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin

Build Mental Toughness & Perform Under Pressure | Dr. Lenny Wiersma

894 snips
Apr 15, 2026
Guest
Lenny Wiersma
Dr. Lenny Wiersma, director of sports and performance psychology at UC Berkeley with decades working with elite and extreme athletes. He unpacks risk and why fear isn’t absence, practical visualization and wipeout planning, reframes self-talk and psychological distancing, and shares biofeedback, breathing, and coaching tactics to perform under pressure.
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Leaders Change Performance Via Co Regulation

  • Emotions spread through co-regulation; leaders and coaches can either mirror to validate or counter to change group mood.
  • Lenny emphasizes coaches must 'read the room' and apply unified short cues to shift team affect rapidly.

Reset Fast After A Game Changing Error

  • After a costly mistake, prompt quick down-regulation and present-focused cues: breathe, walk back, reset, and focus on the immediate task.
  • For Tariq Woolen Lenny's in-the-moment phrase would be: 'Move on. Make a stop. Right here.'

Create Physical Reset Anchors For Rapid Focus

  • Develop simple tactile or visual reset anchors an athlete can use immediately (tattoo tap, wrist tape, ring) to return to present moment.
  • Teammates can co-regulate by a direct grounding touch and shared breath cue to refocus.
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