Between Two Brunettes Performing When It Counts - Inside the Mind of an Elite Performance Psychologist
Feb 25, 2026
Dr. Dana Sinclair, performance psychologist and author who works with elite athletes, surgeons, and executives. She explores what separates top performers from the rest. Listens cover why talent alone is not enough. She explains behavioral red flags, why confidence can mislead, in-the-moment breathing and reset tactics, and how imagery and directed daydreaming rewire performance.
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Use Slow Exhales To Reset In The Moment
- Practice breathing and slowing down as an immediate in-the-moment reset.
- Dana recommends long slow exhales and short practiced breathing cues players use between plays to regain clear thinking.
Crippling Prep Anxiety Still Led To Wins
- Germana described crippling pre-event anxiety in her early career that left her unable to do basic tasks until sleep.
- Despite intense tension she often still delivered excellent presentations the next day, showing tension doesn't always predict failure.
Create A Short Preperformance Plan
- Build a simple pre-performance plan: rehearse the ideal sequence, decide cues to use when things go wrong, and practice them.
- Dana says athletes rehearse mindset shifts before attempting skills; you should plan the mental steps, not new technical skills.
