ELITE MYND Performance LLC

We're proud to announce that our founder, Justin Rindos, was recently featured in University of Pennsylvania's March issue of MAPP Magazine with his article "Strength and Conditioning for the Mind: Leveraging Character Strengths in Mental Skills Training." In this article, he argues that mental performance extends beyond psychological skills like focus and emotion regulation to include deeper, stable traits such as character strengths, which significantly impact athletes at all levels. Despite their benefits, character strengths remain underutilized in athlete development, with most mental performance consultants (MPCs) lacking a strong familiarity and/or uncertainty of how to implement. To address this gap, he sets forth the evidence of character strengths as the foundation of all mental skills and introduces a structured framework that links character strengths to key mental skills in order to offer MPCs an evidence-based approach to designing personalized, sustainable mental skills training interventions.

Did you catch A.J. Brown reading a book on the sideline? If you’re like me, you chuckled a bit and wondered, what on earth could he be reading in the middle of a playoff game? But there’s good reason as explained by Brown: “I bring [Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life] to every game and I read it between each drive. I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad.” Brown’s secret (although he might not realize it by that name)? Leaning into the character strength of self-regulation. For him, the game is mental: “Regardless of whether I score a touchdown or drop a pass, I go back to that book every drive, refocus. Nothing matters, nothing happened, re-lock back in.” This is self-regulation in action—staying present, managing emotions, and sharpening focus. It’s a reminder that greatness on the field can come from leveraging your unique, individual character strengths. So what are YOU doing to to unleash your strengths? Let’s talk - message, email [email protected] or text 908.251.9954.

Effective leadership goes beyond directing—it shapes team cohesion, instills confidence, and drives performance outcomes. In sports, where every decision impacts the team’s trajectory, leadership tailored to individual and team dynamics proves vital. A compelling example comes from the 2016 Australian Football League. Research by Fransen et al. (2017) revealed that teams with high-quality athlete leadership—measured across task, motivational, social, and external roles—excelled in all indicators of team effectiveness. These teams fostered a shared sense of purpose, commitment to goals, and elevated performance levels. Leadership isn’t just about winning; it’s about uniting. When leaders embrace both the science and the art of leadership, they unlock their team’s full potential. How do you see leadership shaping success in your field? Share your thoughts below. Fransen, K., Haslam, S. A., Mallett, C. J., Steffens, N. K., Peters, K., & Boen, F. (2017). Is perceived athlete leadership quality related to team effectiveness? A comparison of three professional sports teams. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(8), 800–806.

Humility is more than modesty—it’s an accurate self-assessment of one’s achievements while recognizing flaws and limitations without seeking undue attention or being overly self-critical. In sports, humility can drive performance in both individual and team contexts: --For individual athletes, such as those in extreme sports, humility enables a clear understanding of abilities and limitations, enhancing courage and performance under pressure. --In team settings, humility fosters a healthy environment by encouraging athletes to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses, promoting learning, personal growth, and team cohesion. Humility isn’t about minimizing talent—it’s about maximizing growth. Coaches, how have you seen humility impact performance of your athletes or your own leadership experience? Brymer, E., & Oades, L. G. (2009). Extreme sports: A positive transformation in courage and humility. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49(1), 114–126. https://lnkd.in/dDgCg59h Austin, M. W. (2014). Is humility a virtue in the context of sport? Journal of Applied Philosophy, 31(2), 203–214. https://lnkd.in/dw4xMiwi Vera, D., & Rodriguez-Lopez, A. (2004). Strategic virtues: Humility as a source of competitive advantage. Organizational Dynamics, 33(4), 393–408.

Teamwork is viewed as a commitment to contributing effectively to the success of a group that involves a sense of social responsibility and a dedication to the group’s overall good rather than personal gain and is often characterized by pulling one’s weight and engaging actively for the collective benefit. This character strength fosters social trust, connectedness, and meaningful collaboration within the group. Teamwork emphasizes how effective teams function like cohesive, living organisms. Although teamwork is often idealized in theory, it can also present certain challenges where conflict in how to define optimal teamwork can impact performance outcomes negatively if not managed well. As a result, a deep understanding of group dynamics and shared goals by team members is imperative for optimal sports team performance.

Challenge yourself this week: keep track of every kind act you perform—on the field, at home, or even with strangers. Research shows this simple habit boosts awareness and sparks more kind ideas and acts in the future. The result—improved on the field performance. Small, simple actions can have a big impact. Ready to unleash your strengths? Text us at 908.251.9954 or email [email protected] to learn more. Link in bio ?? Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention. Journal of happiness studies, 7, 361-375.

Kindness is the character strength of being generous, compassionate, nurturing, and caring towards others with an aim to positively impact those in need without expecting anything in return. Kindness and positive emotions are believed to play an important role in sports for both individual athletes and teams. In looking at the impact of positive emotions in various contexts, which can be fostered through acts of kindness, positive emotions can enhance sports performance by improving motivation, attention, and coping strategies. In addition, kindness can act as a strategic tool for sports leaders to boost team cohesion, resilience, and effectiveness.

Recently, we attended the annual conference of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) along with other leading mental performance coaches from the professional, collegiate, high school, and youth ranks. Here are our three key takeaways: 1?? Shifting Mental Performance Coaching Models in College Athletics: Since 2014, the focus of college athletic departments has been the development of comprehensive mental health support services for student-athletes. With these support structures now in place, athletic departments are beginning to invest in dedicated mental performance coaching resources, with schools like Clemson, Louisville, and Cal leading the way. This paradigm shift moves beyond relying on mental health professionals for mental performance coaching support where frankly a mental health concern may not exist. For college recruits, understanding a program’s mental performance coaching model is a crucial part of making an informed choice about which program to join. 2?? Better Prepared Freshman Athletes: Today’s college freshmen are arriving on campus more mentally prepared than ever, thanks to early exposure to mental performance coaching in high school, club, and individual settings. High school athletes aiming to excel at the next level should proactively engage in mental performance training now, so they’re ready to thrive alongside their peers from day one on college campuses. 3?? The Role of Assessment Tools: Assessment tools like TOPS (Test of Performance Strategies), PCDEQ (Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence Questionnaire), and the VIA character strengths survey are essential in a mental performance coach’s toolkit. These assessments help pinpoint an athlete’s strengths, mental skills, and areas for growth, and when holistically brought together can provide the foundation for a comprehensive athlete development plan. Just as a strength & conditioning coach tracks physical metrics like vertical leap or VO2 Max, mental performance coaches should systematically assess mental readiness to optimize each athlete’s journey to peak performance.

Just as you train your physical & technical skills in practice, you can develop your character strengths with similar intentional effort. Through focused practice, activities, and self-reflection, you can shape your character strengths to allow you to compete at your greatest potential. How Can I Develop My Character Strength of Fairness? Ask yourself: ?? What are three examples in which you use Fairness each day as a teammate? ?? What situations on the field challenge your ability to be fair? ?? When you perceive an injustice in competition, in training or in the locker room, how might you take action in a productive way?

In launching our Character Strengths Series, we’re excited to spend the upcoming months exploring how each of the 24 character strengths impacts sports performance. Together, we’ll dive into practical exercises to cultivate these strengths and observe their application in real-world scenarios. Today’s focus is on Fairness. While some might question whether acting fairly could pose a disadvantage if opponents don’t reciprocate, Fairness brings significant advantages to team sports. It fosters trust, respect, and unity within the team. By treating each team member equitably, we create an environment where athletes feel valued and are motivated to perform at their best. Follow along as we examine how Fairness strengthens team dynamics and enhances performance both on and off the field.