Building a High Performance Culture from the Inside-Out
By Jason Ness, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Contact: drness@drjasonness.com | 847.812.4215 | @drjasonness
High Performance Culture (HPC)
Who Decides? Noun or Verb?
Difficult to Define
Rorschach Test (subjective)
Developmental
Identity vs Confusion
Trust & Relationships
Time x Behavior = Relationships
High Performance Checklist
1
Mastery of an Ideal Competitive Mindset (ICM): Antifragile
Challenges are seen as opportunities for growth rather than threats
Embracing discomfort, open to feedback, relentless pursuit of collective excellence
Resilience, Balance, Identity, Drive, Stress Management, Focus, Optimism, Faith
2
Purpose & Vision
HPC is driven by a clear, compelling purpose that resonates with everyone
Serves as a guiding star, or North Star, unifying the team and aligning Thoughts, Words, and Actions (TWA) toward common goals.
3
Community & Belonging
HPC environments promotes a sense of community where each member feels valued, connected, & part of something larger than themselves.
Psychological safety.
4
Accountability
There's a strong emphasis on personal & collective accountability.
Take responsibility for your actions, process & outcomes.
5
Continuous Learning
The culture is one of perpetual education, where learning from experience is the norm. Examples: formal training, mentorship, and self-reflection.
"Less Certainty, More Inquiry."
High EI Coaches
Awareness
Self, Situational, & Social
Private Voice = Confidence
Attention & Focus
Communication
Public Voice -Tone & Content #1 Factor
Body Language - "Matador"
Ethical & Moral Leadership
Character #1 factor
Your treatment others is the Gold Standard of Leadership
"What you do is very different from how you do it"
The Lonely Work: Know Thyself (+ROI)
Self-Reflection Questions
  • Who determines my high performance culture?
  • Who do I really want to be?
  • What are my Values? Purpose? Vision?
  • How do I define success? Outer? Inner?
Leadership Focus
  • How do I want to lead others?
  • What image do I want to create?
  • Who are the leaders I admire most?
  • Where do you want to invest your energy?
Inner Boxscore Activity: Self
1
Step 1: Self-Description
Write 6-8 words describing you at your best under stress.
2
Step 2: Legacy
List 6-8 words you want inscribed on your tombstone.
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Step 3: Comparison
Compare your best self with your desired legacy.
4
Step 4: Personal Philosophy
Create your credo in under 25 words.
5
Write - Read - Iterate
Power of Journaling
"Shadow Self"
List 8 words describing you at your worst.
Acknowledging & integrating the shadow leads to greater self-awareness & wholeness (Jung)
Unconscious material
Barriers
Identify obstacles to being your best moral self.
Oftentimes it's your private voice (self talk) that impedes action or confidence.
"FOPO"
Gratitude
Seven-minute gratitude writing exercise. Write all the things you are grateful for in your life.
Best antidote to anxiety. Can't feel gratitude and anxiety at the same time.
Values, Purpose, and Vision: Team Activity

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Vision
Where are you headed? Dream Big. Who Are You Becoming?
2
Purpose
Why do you do what you do? Why Do You Play the Game? "Purpose Generates Energy, Energy Ignites Talent"
3
Values
What matters most to you? What are your first principles? Foundation to Inner Game (i.e., source code).
Understanding Behavioral Styles: Gameplan (DISC)
Dominance (D)
Results-focused (outcome), assertive, solving problems, direct, & taking control.
Influence (I)
Enthusiastic, social, persuasive, team players, and center of attention.
Conscientiousness (C)
Detail-oriented, attention to small details, values accuracy, analytical, high standards, cautious, highly considered, slower paced (process).
Steadiness (S)
Calm, dependable, values stability, patient, and supportive. Value consistency, cooperation, harmonious environment, avoids conflict.
Applying DISC in Coaching Practice
1
Assessment
Administer DISC assessment before the season starts (frontload)
2
Strategy Development
Use results to create personalized coaching approaches
3
Communication Adaptation
Adapt communication style to match client's DISC profile
4
Team Dynamics
Leverage DISC insights for leadership and team development
Good to Great: "Outbehave"

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Develops Self & Situational Awareness
Understanding one's own strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and behavior.
2
Team Performance
Enhances overall team dynamics as coaches and athletes understand how to leverage their natural tendencies (D-I-S-C)
3
Communication Effectiveness
Improves interpersonal interactions and ensures that strategies, goals, & feedback are clearly conveyed, fostering a unified team approach.
4
Leadership Development
Leaders who communicate well can motivate, inspire, & guide their teams, enhancing performance and morale. Feedback loop toward continuous improvement.
5
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
High EI teams have a competitive advantage and the ability to identify, understand, manage, and use emotions to better manage pressure, work cohesively, and maintain motivation and focus.
Gratitude and Acknowledgment
"There is no greater intervention available than youth athletics- not therapy, not Big Pharma, not a social-emotional learning curriculum. They all fall short in comparison."
Thank you to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association for this opportunity. Your dedication to improving young adults' lives on and off the field is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
"The Man in the Arena"
High Performance Resources

Explore these resources for further insights into building high performance cultures and personal development.