EP 31: How Elite Athletes Build Confidence & Mental Strength w/Dr. Angus Mugford

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle sits down with Dr. Angus Mugford, a world leader in sport and organizational psychology, to explore what it means to truly thrive at the highest levels of performance. Drawing on decades of experience from the USTA to the Toronto Blue Jays and beyond, Angus shares practical, science-backed strategies for building psychologically safe environments, developing resilient teams, and cultivating leadership that lasts. Whether you’re a coach, executive, or ambitious professional, this episode unpacks what sits beneath consistent excellence—and why who you are matters more than what you do.

 

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👤 Guest Bio: Dr. Angus Mugford

Dr. Angus Mugford is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience driving high-performance cultures and teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), New Jersey Devils (NHL), and most recently as Managing Director for Performance and Operations at the United States Tennis Association (USTA). His expertise spans building and transforming departments, overseeing player development and athlete care, and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance player performance. Originally from the UK, he earned a PhD at the University of Kansas, and spending over a decade at the IMG Academy in Florida working across a broad range of sports. Dr Mugford also served as the President of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, speaking across the world and publishing in academic journals and popular media.

 

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🔗 Mentioned Links

• USTA (United States Tennis Association)

• LinkedIn

 

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✅ Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Self-awareness: “The first thing is just awareness… what is your performance, when is it good and when is it not, and kind of deconstructing and understanding those pieces.”

2. Look at your routines: “Look at your day as a routine—how you prepare, how you go about your work or compete, and then how you recover.”

3. Get really clear about your goals: “Be more concrete and clear about goals… what are you trying to achieve? And is that something that you have control over?”

 

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🔑 10 Key Takeaways

• Psychological safety isn’t about being soft—it’s about creating the conditions for risk-taking, innovation, and truth-telling.

• Leaders must understand how stress affects performance and create environments that support resilience.

• High performance isn’t built by talent alone—it’s cultivated through daily habits, trust, and feedback.

• Most elite performers need permission to rest. True recovery must be normalized, not earned.

• Self-awareness is a competitive advantage; taking time to reflect can elevate performance and leadership.

• Culture is built one behavior at a time—consistency and clarity matter more than slogans.

• Coaching the coaches is critical. Support systems for leaders enable better decision-making under pressure.

• The transition from “what you do” to “who you are” is key for longevity in leadership roles.

• Angus emphasizes curiosity over control—great leaders ask better questions, rather than seeking certainty.

• Values-driven leadership isn’t a buzzword. It’s a performance strategy with long-term impact.