The Mindset of an International Speaker with Professor Damian Hughes

Professor Damian Hughes—international speaker, best-selling author and co-host of The High Performance Podcast—on mindset, culture and the psychology behind sustained high performance.


In this episode, Paul Corke is joined by Professor Damian Hughes, an international speaker and best-selling author who blends practical experience with academic expertise in organisational psychology, sport and change. Damian has written eight best-selling business books (translated into ten languages); authored acclaimed sports biographies (including Sugar Ray Robinson, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler); and serves as Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change at Manchester Metropolitan University. He co-hosts the acclaimed High Performance Podcast, interviewing elite performers from business, sport and the arts. Damian has worked with national and international teams—including England Rugby League and Scotland Rugby Union—and his approach to performance and culture has been praised by leaders such as Sir Richard Branson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Terry Leahy.
We talk about mindset, culture and high performance: the behaviours that build winning environments, how to make values practical (not posters), and the habits that keep performance high under pressure.

You’ll hear:
The psychology of sustained high performance (clarity, consistency, accountability)
How to translate values into non-negotiable behaviours people can actually do
Building a high-performance culture: selection, standards, story and feedback
Lessons from elite sport that transfer to business and leadership
How Damian’s ideas connect to Paul’s Mindset Equation (Aspiration, Belief, Drive/Motivation, EQ, Resilience, Learning Agility)

Try this (team culture, 10 minutes):
Define 3 non-negotiables (behaviours, not slogans).
For each: write Do More / Do Less / Start—one line only.
Agree a scorecard you’ll review weekly (evidence, not opinions).
Close with one micro-commitment per person for the next 7 days.

A masterclass in turning mindset and culture into measurable performance.