We have hosted athletes from across the Middle East, and some of the common factors among them has been their growth mindset, positive competitive spirit and, importantly, the guidance of good coaches and mentors in their sports.

Maria Kavussanu, a professor in sports and exercise psychology at the University of Birmingham in the UK has dedicated several years to understanding what causes prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sports, and its consequences.

In this discussion with her, we talk about morality in sports, developing the right mindset and her most recent study on “authentic leadership”, which looked into the influence of a coach on an athlete’s behaviour, attitudes and performance in their sports. This was published in the Sports Exercise and Performance Psychology academic journal last year. She also discusses how elite and amateur athletes can ease stress and preserve their mental wellbeing.

Prof. Maria has published more than 120 journal articles and book chapters and has received funding for her research from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Nuffield Foundation, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the International Olympic Committee.

To find out more about Prof. Kavussanu, visit the University of Birmingham

Today’s episode was supported by the awesome and adventurous team at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool. Check them out for some truly awe-inspiring scuba and freedive experiences. Visit www.deepdivedubai.com

Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.

For more info, visitwww.themettleset.com , and follow us on@themettleset

We learnt a lot...