We are delighted to announce Ed Clancy OBE as our first speaker at the High-Performance Coaching Seminar!  

Designed for both current and aspiring coaches, the High-Performance Coaching Seminar is a chance to gain a complete understanding of the incredible, transformative power of coaching.

Hosted at the iconic Lilleshall National Sports Centre, the day will provide attendees with opportunities to improve their skills through guided supervision sessions, join workshops, and hear from coaching experts. The event will also feature exclusive talks by VIP guest speakers, all of whom are synonymous with high performance and its merits.

Our first speaker to be announced is triple Olympic champion and six-time world champion, Ed Clancy OBE. Ed has been a key figure in British Cycling for the past two decades. His prowess in the team pursuit made him a crucial part of GB’s rise to dominance in track cycling. Following his retirement from professional cycling at the end of 2021, Ed continues to work with Team GB as a performance consultant for British Cycling and British Triathlon.

Ed has been a long-term ambassador for Pro-Noctis. He credits our MD, Phil Kelly, with supporting him to navigate some of the tougher moments of his career. Since Ed retired from sport, Phil and Ed have founded Pursuit Line – an elite consultancy service that supports world-class performance for individuals and teams.

Ahead of the High-Performance Coaching Seminar, we asked Ed to talk about what high performance means to him and how coaching has impacted him, professionally and personally.

So, Ed, what does high performance mean for you?

The different organisations I currently work for all have quite different metrics for success, but the high performance looks the same; being able to express your full potential both as an individual and as a team.

Every team can harvest a culture to help bring the best out of individuals. Great leadership can help synchronise the whole operation so that the team become greater than its parts.

How would you define high-performance coaching?

High-performance coaching involves helping people reach their full potential, so it is about how you can best do that – how can you empower people to succeed. People hear high performance and they associate that with highly competitive fields, such as sports, business and leadership, but it is also greatly beneficial for personal development, regardless of industry or context.

As a cyclist, the focus for the coaches was on my performance and the collaborative performance across the team. We were all working towards a goal and it was about how we can come together to achieve that.

“High performance is almost always the result of someone working hard in a field that they enjoy, combined with opportunity and good support.” – Ed Clancy OBE

What characteristics do you believe to be commonly associated with high performers?

I make a habit of asking successful people what they think it is that made them successful. Their answers often include resilience, hard work, good listening skills, a willingness to seek help, and teamwork – they try not to go it alone!

Also, “failure” crops up in almost every conversation. Very few successful people seem to have gone unchallenged on their way to achieving great things.

Do you believe everyone can be a high performer? If so, how can someone become a high performer?

I don’t believe ‘talent’ or some sort of ‘innate ability’ plays a big part in high performers.  I do believe that everyone can vastly improve their performance. High performance is almost always the result of someone working hard in a field that they enjoy, combined with opportunity and good support.

What do you believe are the most common barriers to performance?

I think it’s very hard to be a high performer if you’re working in an industry that you’re not passionate about. People will often be prepared to go over and above if they want to be there.

Ego can also be a pitfall. Ego can be the result of a successful or proven history, but it can also be a barrier to progress. Sometimes it crystalises a belief that they no longer need a curiosity about adapting, improving and being prepared to learn.

Who – or what – are your inspirations when it comes to high performance?

I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by many high-performing athletes and leaders throughout my career, and I take inspiration from a lot of them. But, I think people and teams that follow their true values are as inspirational to me as anyone.

Do you have any experience of being coached? How was your experience?

I have been coached throughout my professional cycling career and into my next chapter of life. I’ve had a variety of experiences, good and bad. The best coaches inspired and coordinated a team to lead them to their true potential.

For me, a good coach helps me clarify my wants and desires. Not only that, but they can also help me build a systematic plan of how to get there.

A bit of positivity and inspiration never huts too!

Thank you, Ed! 

Join us, Ed and our other VIP Speakers on 21 March at the High-Performance Coaching Seminar. Gain a complete understanding of the power of high-performance coaching, and how it can help people by supporting and challenging them.

The High-Performance Coaching Seminar is a CPD-accredited event, meaning you will also earn a CPD credit through attending.

Tickets are limited. The cost includes refreshments and lunch.  To find out more, or speak to someone about your booking, contact us here.