Unlocking peak performance: Lessons from elite sport with David Young

Why sports psychology for property recruitment?

You might wonder what cricket celebrations and football victories have to do with finding the right people for the right roles. The answer lies in a fundamental truth that David shared with us: elite performance principles are universal. Whether you're a cricket player lifting the World Cup trophy, a recruitment consultant navigating a challenging quarter or a development director facing a tough market, the mental frameworks that drive success remain remarkably consistent.

The performance brain vs. the survival brain

One of David's most powerful insights centred on understanding how our brains operate. As he explained, "Our brains are built for survival, not high performance." This means we're naturally wired to:

• Prioritise safety, reproduction, and sustenance

• Seek approval from others

• Conserve energy

But to achieve peak performance in recruitment – whether that's building lasting client relationships, identifying hidden talent, or closing complex deals – we need to rewire our thinking. David introduced us to the concept of the ‘Performance Brain’, which combines:

BEHAVIOURAL STYLE + MINDSET = PERFORMANCE PREFERENCE

Discovering our unique performance preferences

The workshop wasn't just theoretical. David guided our team through the ‘Mindflick Spotlight’ assessment, helping each consultant understand their unique blend of performance preferences across two key dimensions:

Mindset: How we view the world

• Contained: "Keep calm and carry on" - cool-headed and rational

• Optimistic: "Come on, let's get it!" - brave and confident

• Prudent: "There's danger here, be careful" - prepared and risk-aware

• Engaged: "Stay alert, things could change quickly" - attentive and responsive

Behavioural Style: How we interact with the world

• Forceful: External, task-focused behaviours - outspoken and direct

• Expressive: External, people-focused behaviours - persuasive and enthusiastic

• Logical: Internal, task-focused behaviours - structured and analytical

• Empathic: Internal, people-focused behaviours - caring and reflective

The sweet spot vs. the danger zone

One of the most valuable aspects of David's approach was helping us understand that every strength has a potential shadow side. Through interactive exercises, our consultants explored:

• Sweet spot: Where their natural preferences drive peak performance

• Overdone: Where strengths become weaknesses when pushed too far

• Wriggle room: How to flex beyond their natural preferences when the situation demands it

This is less about changing who you are but about understanding your natural operating system and knowing when to adapt.

Practical applications for recruitment excellence

The workshop revealed immediate applications for our consultants:

• Client meetings: Understanding whether to lead with data and analysis (Logical) or relationship and enthusiasm (Expressive)

• Candidate conversations: Knowing when to be direct and challenging (Forceful) or supportive and encouraging (Empathic)

• Team collaboration: Recognising different mindsets and adapting communication styles accordingly

• Pressure situations: Accessing "wriggle room" preferences to stay effective under stress

Building a high-performance team

The session concluded with our consultants mapping out their strengths and "take cares" areas where they might need to be mindful of overplaying their natural preferences. But perhaps most importantly, they gained insight into how their unique blend of preferences contributes to our collective team strength.

As David reminded us, "All preferences are equally valuable - there are no 'better' preferences." The magic happens when diverse thinking styles come together with a shared commitment to excellence.

Looking forward

The insights from David's workshop are already influencing how we approach everything from client strategy sessions to candidate assessments. By understanding the psychology of peak performance, our consultants are better equipped to not only excel in their roles but also to identify and nurture high-performance potential in the candidates they work with.

After all, at deverellsmith, we don't just find people jobs, we help build the teams and leaders who will drive tomorrow's success. And thanks to David Young's expertise, we're now better equipped than ever to do exactly that.

Get in touch below if you are looking for your next role or are looking to build a high-performing team in 2026.