Understand how HR professional can use the Mental Toughness concept to help individuals and organisations thrive in challenge and adversity

About this event

Understand how HR professional can use the Mental Toughness concept to help individuals and organisations thrive in challenge and adversity

Mental Toughness is a personality trait that describes the way individuals respond mentally to stressors, pressure, opportunity, and change. It explains “how we think” when events occur, which is a significant determinant of our behaviour. An “invisible” aspect of our personality, it is a major factor in wellbeing, performance, agility, and aspiration.


It is incredibly well evidenced, both academically and in practice. And today we can assess this with confidence – “making the invisible visible”.


Fundamentally important and very practical, it applies to teams and organisations enabling a systemic approach to developing the person and the organisation.


It brings new insight into people development practice – especially the ability to understand people as individuals and to customise their development. It also challenges long held myths.


3 Key ‘Take-aways’


1. Understanding mental toughness REALLY is, and why it is so relevant for wellbeing and success.


2. Understanding how to enable all “to be the best version of themselves that they can be” especially in times of stress, pressure, and challenge.


3. How the concept applies to almost all issues relevant to the HR function, particularly in addressing team effectiveness and motivation and how the concept can also “join the dots” between culture and the individual.


Outcome

Attendees will understand the basics of the mental toughness concept, enabling them to add this concept to their practice and enhance their effectiveness.

Speaker:

Doug Strycharczyk

Doug is the CEO of AQR International – Founded in 1989, AQR works in 80+ countries. Prior to this he was Head of HR and Head of Operations for Castrol UK (now part of BP).

With Professors Peter Clough and John Perry, Doug has defined mental toughness and created the world’s leading measure of mental toughness. He is recognised as a leading authority on the application of mental toughness to the worlds of work, education, sport, health, and social mobility.

Doug's and AQR’s areas of expertise include:

  • Personal Development - Development of Psychometric Tests and Development Programmes –
  • Leadership Development and Organisation Development - AQR has developed expertise in leadership development and in coach/mentor development.
  • Development of Young People and the Education Sector – developing programmes and approaches which address student wellbeing, employability, performance, and transition.
  • Doug has established with Professor John Perry, the International Centre for Mental Toughness Research and Development.

Doug has authored more than ten books including,

“Who Cares Wins” (2024) – Defining new leadership behaviours for the 21st Century.

“Developing Mental Toughness” (2021) (Kogan Page) with Professors Clough and Perry

“Developing Resilient Organisations” (Kogan Page Aug 2014) with Charles Elvin, CEO for ILM.

Senior People Professional Network - Wales


The network is designed to be a platform to share best practice with like-minded peers, this network is open to people professionals in senior roles with responsibilities for strategy and management, for example Heads of HR, Senior HRBPs, Assistant People Directors, and is open to members and non-members.

Connect with us Senior People Professional network and follow The CIPD in Wales here.