Approach

The performer trust barrier

Elite performers are surrounded by people who want something from them, so they screen hard. Help rarely lands until it gets past that screen.

Elite performers are surrounded by people who want something from them, so they screen hard, and they are careful about seeking support when they are unsure how it might affect their standing. Help rarely lands until it gets past that screen. I think of it the way pharmacology thinks about the blood-brain barrier: the first problem to solve, before anything else can work. For organizations, that means shaping how support is introduced, how confidentiality is explained, and how coaches and staff help people connect with care.

In practice

How relationships, confidentiality and the way support is introduced influence engagement, with practical approaches to helping people connect with care.

Related: Sleep as Performance Medicine