Barry Shillabeer: How to Implement Models of Leadership

Episode 179: In this episode of our Sport Performance Leadership Podcast, host Pete McKnight speaks to Barry Shillabeer, a globally experienced sports performance leader with over two decades in elite sport. As Head of Performance at Aspire Academy of Sporting Excellence in Qatar, Barry leads multidisciplinary teams, optimizing athlete development, strategic planning, and performance evaluation.

Previously, Barry played a key role in British high-performance sport, holding leadership positions with the English Institute of Sport, British Swimming, UK Athletics, and the Rugby Football Union. He also served as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, contributing to legacy facility design and long-term performance strategies.

Topics Discussed:

• Leadership in elite sports performance – Managing high-performance programs in the UK and Qatar
• The evolution of leadership – Adapting leadership styles to different teams and challenges
• The importance of human connection and trust – Building strong relationships with athletes, coaches, and staff
• Organizational structures and processes – Ensuring efficiency in performance support, sport science, and data analytics
• Transformational leadership and impact – Creating positive sports cultures and inspiring future generations
• The value of continuous learning – Seeking mentorship, embracing new perspectives, and evolving as a leader
• Practical advice for aspiring leaders – Technical proficiency, work ethic, and proactive goal-setting

Key Points

• Leadership in sports performance involves helping people and organizations achieve their best form. This includes managing various personnel, such as sports scientists, performance directors, and head coaches. As performance levels increase, interactions with diverse staff members become more complex, requiring a balance of multiple opinions and perspectives.

• Qatar's approach to sports performance is characterized by big thinking, ample funding, and a broad vision. This environment allows for quick implementation of ideas that may not be feasible in other countries. The setup is similar to an institute style, with access to a wide range of performance services and coaching expertise.

• Effective leadership in sports performance requires managing multiple "plates to spin," including various processes, teams, and personal-professional considerations. This multifaceted role has grown organically over time, supported by specific leadership characteristics and experiences gained through different positions and responsibilities.

• One significant challenge in leadership is coordinating multiple training centers and coaches across different locations. This involves aligning philosophies, training new staff, and creating a sense of community. Leaders must adapt their approach, being collaborative in some situations and more authoritarian in others, to effectively manage diverse teams and scenarios.

• Building strong connections with coaches is crucial for effective leadership, especially when working across different locations. This connection enables leaders to implement policies, programs, and new thought processes successfully. It also allows for better management of athletes during holding camps and national camp scenarios.

• Leadership in sports performance often requires versatility and the ability to take on different roles as needed. This may include stepping in as a lead coach, coordinating training camps, or running specialized programs like altitude studies. Such experiences contribute to a leader's growth and ability to manage diverse situations.

• Developing a sports performance department involves careful consideration of best practices for junior elite to senior-level athletes. This process requires managing multiple strong personalities and opinions while driving the overall vision and direction of the program.

• Effective leadership in sports performance is driven by a combination of equitable treatment of staff and a passion for achieving high-quality performances. This dual focus helps shape decision-making processes and guides the overall direction of programs and initiatives.

• Implementing structural changes, such as introducing performance support leads or sports science managers for each team, can improve the efficiency of resource allocation and communication between coaches and support staff. These changes should be underpinned by trust and familiarity with the programs and coaches involved.

• Successful leadership in sports performance requires balancing people skills with a focus on achieving outcomes. This involves implementing effective systems and processes while also maintaining strong relationships with staff, understanding their personal ambitions, and aligning objectives with the overall goals of the organization.

Sponsors

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise.

VALD: makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training.