In this week’s episode of The Chord, we explore the fascinating intersection of health science and leadership performance with Joe O’Connor, a lecturer at Munster Technological University and recognised expert in the science of cognitive performance.
Joe brings a unique blend of academic research, practical coaching, and elite sport science to the world of business leadership. His doctoral research explores the drivers of cognitive performance in executives and business leaders, examining how factors like sleep, recovery, focus, and physical health directly influence our ability to lead, think clearly, and make decisions under pressure.
With experience working with high performers from Limerick GAA to Olympic athletes, Joe now translates those performance lessons to business leaders. He’s passionate about bridging the gap between performance science and the daily realities of business life—helping leaders unlock clarity, resilience, and effectiveness through simple, science-backed strategies.
Here is a link to the research Joe discussed. He would be delighted if you could find the time to participate.:
https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74bbMxu5By9vVHw
This episode is essential listening for CEOs, business leaders, senior HR professionals, and anyone responsible for driving organisational and people change.
Key topics discussed:
- The science of cognitive performance in leadership: Joe breaks down what cognitive performance actually means for CEOs and executives, exploring the biological and environmental factors that leaders can influence to enhance their decision-making abilities.
- Understanding cognitive load: An exploration of how today’s leaders may be unknowingly overloading their cognitive bandwidth, and the real-world implications for strategic thinking and performance.
- Lessons from elite sport: Drawing from his extensive work with high-performance athletes, Joe shares transferable insights about managing pressure, recovery, and mental clarity that directly apply to corporate leadership environments.
- Physical health as leadership strategy: The scientific connection between movement, sleep, nutrition and decision-making quality, and why physical health isn’t separate from—but integral to—executive performance.
- Challenging the culture of overwork: Joe’s perspective on why burnout as a “badge of honour” is counterproductive, and what the business community needs to unlearn about sustainable high performance.
- Practical interventions for busy leaders: Real-world routines and habits that make a measurable difference in cognitive health, designed for leaders with limited time and high stress levels.
- Organisational design for brain health: How companies can create work environments and cultures that support mental performance, moving beyond policy to genuine mindset shifts from the top down.
- The future of performance science: Emerging research in cognitive performance that will shape how we think about business leadership, and the potential for a fundamental shift in leadership development.
Actionable insights for leaders:
- Start with one foundational habit: Joe’s top recommendation for leaders wanting to improve their cognitive health immediately—focusing on sustainable, science-backed changes.
- Manage attention like a strategic asset: Practical approaches to protecting focus and managing cognitive overload in our technology-saturated work environments.
- Reframe recovery as performance enhancement: Understanding that rest and recovery aren’t obstacles to productivity but essential components of sustained high performance.
- Design organisational cultures that reward sustainable performance: Moving beyond output-focused metrics to systems that support long-term cognitive health and strategic thinking.
Guest Bio: Joe O’Connor is a lecturer at Munster Technological University specialising in cognitive performance science. His doctoral research focuses on the drivers of cognitive performance in executives and business leaders. With extensive experience working with elite athletes and high performers, Joe translates performance science insights into practical strategies for business leadership, helping leaders unlock clarity, resilience, and effectiveness through evidence-based approaches.
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