Episode 26: Derek Covington | Mindful Performance
1 hour 3 minutes
As the Director of Olympic Performance for the Canadian Olympic Committee, Derek was responsible for Team Canada at nine Olympic Games. Known for being innovative and visionary, Derek has a track record of creating world-leading excellence by creating systems that enable individuals and teams to perform their best in complex, high-pressure environments. A former competitive national-level athlete and coach himself, Derek implicitly understands the importance of mindfulness in achieving success - more than a series of techniques; it is a personal journey.
Based in Montreal, Canada, Derek Covington is a certified mindful performance enhancement (mPEAK) instructor through the Centre for Mindfulness at the University California, San Diego. Through First Water Performance, where he is the Principal, he works with individuals, groups, and teams to help them live and perform mindfully. Derek is passionate about helping clients and teams perform their best from a place of well-being, achieved through mindfulness practice, applied science, and the Olympic experience.
Our discussion with Derek is wide-ranging and insightful. We discuss the concept of mindful performance and dig into several ideas, including flow, self-compassion (precisely why self-compassion is the new hardcore), trusting your preparation, awareness, and the importance of embracing the process, not the outcome. We also discuss the characteristics of high performers (spoiler alert, high performers tend to be attached to outcome goals and excruciatingly hard on themselves); and jam on how high performers can transition to mindful performers.
Please enjoy our conversation with the inspiring, insightful, and mindful Derek Covington!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform.