PodParley PodParley
PodParley PodParley
Log in

Ed Smith: LBW (Leadership Beyond Winning)

An episode of the A LOAD OF BS ON SPORT podcast, hosted by A LOAD OF BS ON SPORT, titled "Ed Smith: LBW (Leadership Beyond Winning)" was published on June 11, 2025 and runs 75 minutes.

June 11, 2025 ·75m · A LOAD OF BS ON SPORT

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

This week on A Load of BS on Sport, Daniel Ross and Dan Biggar welcome back former England cricketer, national selector, and leadership expert Ed Smith.In this fascinating deep dive into the psychology of leadership in sport, Ed shares insights from his groundbreaking work with the Institute of Sports Humanities at Loughborough University. We explore the complex transition from athlete to leader, examining what truly makes someone worth following and whether leadership can be taught or simply revealed under pressure.Ed draws on his unique experience as both elite performer and decision-maker to unpack the delicate balance between intuition and analysis in high-stakes environments. From his time as England's national cricket selector to his current work developing the next generation of sports leaders, he reveals the art of building diverse teams, navigating uncertainty, and sustaining success.This episode tackles the fundamental questions facing modern sport: How do you create leaders who can thrive in today's complex sporting landscape? What's the secret to winning away from home? And how do we prepare athletes for their crucial "second act" beyond playing?With typical eloquence and insight, Ed challenges conventional thinking about leadership development, emphasising the importance of drawing from multiple disciplines, embracing risk, and understanding that the best leaders never stop evolving.Highlights Include:The launch of the Institute of Sports Humanities and its missionWhy leadership in sport requires drawing from multiple disciplinesThe psychology behind decision-making under extreme pressureBuilding effective teams with diverse characters and capabilitiesThe balance between data analysis and human intuitionWhy some aspects of leadership are innate while others can be taughtThe challenge of sustaining success and avoiding complacencyPreparing athletes for leadership roles beyond their playing careersLearning from other industries to enhance sports leadershipThe emotional connections that make sport universally compellingMemorable Quotes"What makes someone worth following?""Leadership dynamics in sports are evolving.""The transition from athlete to leader is complex.""The best leaders always want to get better.""Human judgment can never be got rid of.""We need to be very open to instinct and intuition.""Some aspects of leadership are innate.""You have to bear the risk of being different and worse.""Mission command stops bureaucratic log jams.""The magic of sport connects us with our past.""You want to equip professional athletes with the tools for their second act.""Understanding history is crucial for effective decision-making."If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with your friends or anyone interested in leadership, sport, and human performance. Your support helps us bring more inspiring conversations to your ears each week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description

This week on A Load of BS on Sport, Daniel Ross and Dan Biggar welcome back former England cricketer, national selector, and leadership expert Ed Smith.

In this fascinating deep dive into the psychology of leadership in sport, Ed shares insights from his groundbreaking work with the Institute of Sports Humanities at Loughborough University. We explore the complex transition from athlete to leader, examining what truly makes someone worth following and whether leadership can be taught or simply revealed under pressure.

Ed draws on his unique experience as both elite performer and decision-maker to unpack the delicate balance between intuition and analysis in high-stakes environments. From his time as England's national cricket selector to his current work developing the next generation of sports leaders, he reveals the art of building diverse teams, navigating uncertainty, and sustaining success.

This episode tackles the fundamental questions facing modern sport: How do you create leaders who can thrive in today's complex sporting landscape? What's the secret to winning away from home? And how do we prepare athletes for their crucial "second act" beyond playing?

With typical eloquence and insight, Ed challenges conventional thinking about leadership development, emphasising the importance of drawing from multiple disciplines, embracing risk, and understanding that the best leaders never stop evolving.


Highlights Include:


  • The launch of the Institute of Sports Humanities and its mission
  • Why leadership in sport requires drawing from multiple disciplines
  • The psychology behind decision-making under extreme pressure
  • Building effective teams with diverse characters and capabilities
  • The balance between data analysis and human intuition
  • Why some aspects of leadership are innate while others can be taught
  • The challenge of sustaining success and avoiding complacency
  • Preparing athletes for leadership roles beyond their playing careers
  • Learning from other industries to enhance sports leadership
  • The emotional connections that make sport universally compelling


Memorable Quotes


  • "What makes someone worth following?"


  • "Leadership dynamics in sports are evolving."


  • "The transition from athlete to leader is complex."


  • "The best leaders always want to get better."


  • "Human judgment can never be got rid of."


  • "We need to be very open to instinct and intuition."


  • "Some aspects of leadership are innate."


  • "You have to bear the risk of being different and worse."


  • "Mission command stops bureaucratic log jams."


  • "The magic of sport connects us with our past."


  • "You want to equip professional athletes with the tools for their second act."


  • "Understanding history is crucial for effective decision-making."


If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with your friends or anyone interested in leadership, sport, and human performance. Your support helps us bring more inspiring conversations to your ears each week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Polyphenols Explained: A Smarter Way to Eat for Women

Apr 7, 2026 ·33m

Seasonal Allergy Relief: What Really Helps Your Body Calm Down - Dr. Anthony Balduzzi

Mar 31, 2026 ·34m

How Women Reclaim Energy, Desire, and Deep Vitality with Maraya Brown, Women’s Vibrancy Code

Mar 24, 2026 ·51m

A Natural Anxiety Reset For Women Over 40 with Dr. Anthony Balduzzi

Mar 17, 2026 ·46m

How To Reduce Bloating Naturally After 40 with Dr. Anthony Balduzzi

Mar 10, 2026 ·42m

Alcohol After 40: Sleep, Hormones, and Fat Loss with Dr. Anthony Balduzzi

Mar 3, 2026 ·26m

Similar Podcasts

Dear Viv: No-nonsense advice The Pool Each Tuesday, The Pool’s resident agony aunt Viv Groskop tackles personal problems, emotional issues and all the nightmares of life both large and small.Viv Groskop gained her agony aunt qualifications at the School of Life, having made a load of mistakes, said a lot of idiotic things, smoked way too many cigarettes (40 a day at one time) and drunk too many glasses of wine, including wine she didn’t even like. She’s had lots of miniature everyday breakdowns where she’s used good friends, self-help books and lots of therapy to get through this occasional pain in the ass we call life. Now she's here to dispense the tough-love that your friends are too polite to give you.If you have a question for Viv, email [email protected]. All submissions will be kept anonymous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. No Frills - Sydney Drum & Bass No Frills The Sydney dnb podcast hosted by Mark Bionic from the No Frills crew. Includes information on the all the latest gigs coming up in Sydney plus a tank-load of quality tracks from the past, present and future.www.nofrillsdrumnbass.com Senator North by Gertrude Atherton Loyal Books "When, Mr. President, a man, however eminent in other pursuits and whatever claims he may have to public confidence, becomes a member of this body, he has much to learn and much to endure. Little does he know of what he will have to encounter. He may be well read in public affairs, but he is unaware of the difficulties which must attend and embarrass every effort to render what he may know available and useful. He may be upright in purpose and strong in the belief of his own integrity, but he cannot even dream of the ordeal to which he cannot fail to be exposed; of how much courage he must possess to resist the temptations which must daily beset him; of that sensitive shrinking from undeserved censure which he must learn to control; of the ever recurring contest between a natural desire for public approbation and a sense of public duty; of the load of injustice he must be content to bear even from those who should be his friends; the imputations on his motives; the sneers and sarcasms Breaking Mum & Dad: The Podcast Anna Williamson In Breaking Mum and Dad: The Podcast, TV presenter and national best selling author Anna Williamson brings the no-nonsense conversation about parenthood and paternal mental health from her new book to life.In frank and open conversations with celebrity parenting pals and well-known bloggers, Anna covers anxiety, post-natal depression, loneliness, guilt, fertility and so much more.A perfect companion to any parent dealing with the ups and downs that life with little one’s brings....grab a cuppa and get ready to share in the tears, laughter and bucket load of honesty!
URL copied to clipboard!