Simon Cusden

From High Performance to Whole Performance – Reconciling Wellbeing and Excellence.

Is your company's focus on wellbeing creating a fragile workforce? Learn the difference between true psychological safety and a culture that avoids necessary challenges.

From High Performance to Whole Performance – Reconciling Wellbeing and Excellence.
#1about 4 minutes

A personal journey through high performance and addiction

The speaker shares his story of being a professional athlete while navigating family trauma, grief, and a descent into alcoholism.

#2about 6 minutes

The path to recovery and building a new life

Going through rehab provided a foundation for self-discovery, building a healthy family, and finding a new purpose in helping others.

#3about 2 minutes

Uncovering the dark side of high performance culture

The relentless pursuit of success often leads to negative outcomes like burnout, addiction, and broken relationships.

#4about 5 minutes

When the pursuit of wellbeing becomes avoiding discomfort

The modern emphasis on wellbeing can be misconstrued as a demand for constant comfort, which hinders resilience and growth.

#5about 3 minutes

Introducing whole performance to reconcile excellence and wellbeing

A new philosophy called whole performance suggests that facing challenges and pursuing excellence is essential for true, long-term wellbeing.

#6about 4 minutes

Understanding the generational divide in the modern workplace

The tension between Gen Z's values and traditional leadership styles presents an opportunity for leaders to evolve and inspire rather than command.

#7about 4 minutes

How leaders can cultivate psychological safety and inspire teams

Creating a safe environment for pressure requires leaders to listen actively and meet the fundamental human needs of their team members to be seen and heard.

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Matching moments

Uncovering the hidden struggles behind performance culture
04:02 MIN

Uncovering the hidden struggles behind performance culture

Destigmatizing the Workplace: Building Real Inclusion

Moving beyond perks to a holistic view of wellbeing
00:04 MIN

Moving beyond perks to a holistic view of wellbeing

Thriving Is a Feature, Not a Bug: Wellbeing for the Future of Work

Facing the crisis of performance and manager engagement
09:06 MIN

Facing the crisis of performance and manager engagement

Management in times of Agentic AI - The Human Premium

How investing in wellbeing drives stock market outperformance
15:25 MIN

How investing in wellbeing drives stock market outperformance

Thriving Is a Feature, Not a Bug: Wellbeing for the Future of Work

Addressing the growing mental health crisis at work
08:41 MIN

Addressing the growing mental health crisis at work

What a Crazy Year This Has Been: HR Trends 2024 Recap and Outlook for 2025

Focusing on sustainable wins over quick performance fixes
30:29 MIN

Focusing on sustainable wins over quick performance fixes

The Future of Work: 
Are High-Agency Cultures the Next Big Thing?

Why successful leaders seek to reconnect with themselves
11:04 MIN

Why successful leaders seek to reconnect with themselves

Softness at Work: Weakness or the Ultimate Leadership Asset?

Balancing wellbeing with collaboration and innovation
18:01 MIN

Balancing wellbeing with collaboration and innovation

The Neuro-Architecture of Productivity: How Work Environments Impact Cognitive Performance

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