Supporting elite athletes to shine through mentoring.

The Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, meaning ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’. The Paris 2024 Games sung this motto.

Being an elite athlete comes with incredible skill, training, precision planning, and a time and energy commitment to their trade. To embrace the Olympic motto in all its glory, most athletes in any sport will say it’s a full-time job.

 

THE HIDDEN CHALLENGES – Juggling sport, work, life and career transitions as an elite athlete

There are hidden challenges and the less discussed juggles for many elite athletes. Many elite sports require full-time commitment, yet played in sport competitions that are often part-time. For many Olympic athletes, juggling life at the elite level whilst attempting to work, study and contemplate career transitions during and post their sporting careers can be very challenging.

Here in Australia AFLW is another example where female players are attempting to balance elite part-time sport with work, family, life, and future career transitions and ambitions.

 

MENTORING OUR ELITE ATHLETES –  A golden opportunity for athletes on and off the field

Mentoring has long been recognised as an invaluable means to support people’s professional and personal growth. Mentoring can offer even greater value again and positive impacts for elite athletes, and especially those in part-time competitions like AFLW. Mentoring is an accessible means to better support athletes to lead successful, and all importantly fulfilled lives as they juggle high demands during their sports careers, and then as they plan for and transition into their next career chapters.

 

ST KILDA FOOTBALL CLUB’S MENTORING PROGRAM – supporting AFLW

In 2019, St Kilda Football Club recognised the golden opportunity that mentoring provides. The club launched their AFLW Mentor Program coinciding with the inaugural St Kilda women’s season. Over the last 5 years, the highly successful (and optional) mentor program has helped match over 60 mentor-athlete relationships within the club.

The programs mentor relationships are based on broad life experience, but also specific knowledge in a field relevant to the career or interests of the player. Support might include juggling sport-work-life responsibilities, exploring career pathways, giving broader career advice, supporting career skill development, and providing work experience opportunities.

 

SHARING MENTORING EXPERIENCES – with Saints AFWL Player Grace Kelly & Poppy Griffiths, Director UnlimitU High Performance Coaching

In 2023, Saints AFLW Player Development Manager and Psychologist Bree Van Ryswyk gave me a call to talk about the program and getting involved to support the AFLW Saints players. As a professional high-performance coach, I work with a variety of industries, and leaders within these organisations to help optimise team performance, build leader capability and improve mental fitness. I’m a big believer in the value of mentoring and count myself just as lucky to have met Saints defender and winger Grace Kelly in 2023, and now 12 months on to be continuing to support Grace’s playing and career success today, and wherever her future career takes her.

 

THE MENTORING APPEAL FOR ATHLETES – sharing the impacts

 According to Grace, “The mentoring program appealed to me because I was looking for ways to better manage the demands of my football career alongside my other work and personal life. Balancing intense training schedules with everyday responsibilities can be challenging, and I wanted to find strategies to handle this effectively. “

Grace also was drawn to the program as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

“I was eager to learn from an experienced mentor in a career field that interests me. I was keen to delve into Poppy’s expertise in leadership development and how to build mental fitness on the field, and in other life and work contexts too”.

 

MENTORING IN ACTION – A glimpse into what mentoring catch ups can look like

Our mentoring time together is regular, about monthly, and centred around Grace’s personal and professional goals and ambitions, as well as navigating any real-time roadblocks. We always catch up in person, with some informal structure to what Grace wants to focus on and gain from our time together. I think we’ve built a really open and trusting relationship. We can certainly laugh together and be pretty honest about what’s working and what’s not. Grace is not afraid to stretch the bar higher.

Grace’s personal and professional success is important to me. I’ve gained so many insights about life as an elite athlete. She is a wonderfully genuine, smart, considered human and all in addition to being a gifted athlete.

We’ve chatted career guidance, worked on leadership development, and explored future career ambitions and roadmaps to her move towards achieving these goals. I’ve loved Grace’s attitude to stepping outside her comfort zone as we’ve spoken and presented together at several organisations and industry events that my business UnlimitU is involved in.

 

PERSONAL & TEAM SUCCESS – How does mentoring enable both?

Grace believes that the mentoring program’s focus on individual development off the field has helped shape a more well-rounded and dynamic team.

“As each of us improve our personal skills, (whether that is goal setting, time management, resilience, leadership, self-discipline etc.), this collectively strengthens our cohesion as a group and our performance on the field”.

Grace shares the importance of finding that sense of balance and happiness off the field, so it can positively impact both your personal achievements and the team’s success.

“Poppy’s guidance in goal setting, leadership, utilising my strengths and mental fitness has helped me develop qualities that enhance my contribution to the team.”

 

BUILDING GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH MENTORING – Building support structures

Grace speaks mostly about the invaluable bond created through a successful mentor-mentee relationship. As Grace’s mentor, I couldn’t agree more.

 “What I’ve enjoyed most about the program is the mentorship relationship with Poppy. Her expertise and support have been instrumental in my development over the past year. Her emphasis on stepping out of my comfort zone has been particularly rewarding. Thanks to Poppy, I’ve had the chance to engage in guest-speaking roles and connect with new professionals. I am grateful for these opportunities, which have greatly improved my public speaking, self-expression, and overall confidence.”

 

MENTORING IS A TWO-WAY REALATIONSHIP – Rewarding for mentor and mentee

My regular catch ups and discussions with Grace are always interesting and rewarding. I’m constantly reminded how much you learn and gain yourself as a mentor. Mentoring relationship benefits and impacts are two-way, in every way.

Eilite athletes situations can be unique to other traditional workplaces. For me as a High Performance Coach I’ve really enjoyed supporting Grace translate her skills and passions in elite sport to career pathways outside of sport. We’ve worked on a stack of great leadership development, worked on mental fitness skills and found ways to broaden networks and experiences. It’s been so rewarding to provide opportunities of interest for Grace in different business settings outside of sport and watch her talents and confidence flourish.

 

WE CAN ALL BE A MENTOR TO OTHERS – Regardless of industry & life experience

In every industry and life stage, we all have life and career experiences worthy of bringing to the table for others. I personally think, the more senior we get in our careers, the most rewarding moments we get, are listening to and leaning in to support others ambitions. Most people are good humans, wanting to help and support others. There is so much untapped potential in this idea alone.

 

SEEK YOUR MENTOR – Finding mentors throughout our careers

Finding great mentors throughout our work and life is about seeking out people you admire, or who have skill sets which you want to develop. Then building genuine relationships with these people who want to listen to your ambitions, who are excited by them too, and want to support you to realise them. With four generations in our workplaces today, we each have a lot to bring to the table and learn from each other.

Knowing what you want from a mentor and how you can give back to a mentee is important in any mentoring relationship. This might evolve, but being honest with expectations on both sides is always the best way to approach it. Even without formal mentoring programs, starting a mentoring relationship informally, casually, organically is also often the best place to begin for mentors and mentees.

 

A FINAL TAKEAWAY FROM GRACE KELLY – Ahead of the AFLW season 24/25 kick off.

“One key insight from my whole mentoring experience is the power of self-awareness.”

Poppy has been invaluable in helping me understand the importance of our core values, recognizing our strengths, and identifying our negative mind saboteurs. Self-awareness provides us with a far superior foundation for making decisions, setting goals, overcoming our obstacles, and realising the success we each desire.

I know this insight will continue to support my ongoing career and personal growth my whole life”.

 

MENTORING IS A PLATFORM TO SUPERCHARGE ATHELETES – to also be our wonderful role models and leaders in the world

Be it at the Olympic Games or on the AFLW field, our elite athletes will always carry the privilege and opportunity to inspire a generation of kids to come. In equal doses they inspire the generations that have come before them.

Providing mentoring opportunities for elite athletes, just like St Kilda’s AFLW Mentoring Program  is one invaluable way we can support our elite athletes shine throughout their own careers on and off the field, so they can continue to also be the wonderful role models and leaders in the world.

 

Written by Poppy Griffiths, High Performance Coach, AFLW Mentor and Director of UnlimitU High Performance Coaching www.unlimitu.com.au

 

For more information about the St Kilda Football Club AFLW news visit https://www.saints.com.au/aflw

 

Poppy Griffiths is Director & Founder of UnlimitU High Performance Coaching, a neuroscience qualified professional coach and speaker with 2 decades of senior business & leadership experience with Qantas Group & Swisse Wellness. 

UnlimitU works with industry, business, government, schools and elite sport clubs across Australia, New Zealand & Asia Pacific. We are passionate about enabling people, teams, and leaders to show up at their best in work and life. Were amplify workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, team performance and wellbeing.

Poppy is strong advocate for working parents, women in leadership, and mentally fit leaders and teams. A 13 year R U OK? ambassador and media spokesperson, and previous Board Chair for Nutrition Australia. 

If you are interested in high performance event speaking, group workshops, 1:1 coaching or advisory for your organisation, leaders or teams, please get in touch. poppy@unlimitu.com.au