Mental toughness and the MTQ - the key to creating self-awareness - 6 October 2021

Mental toughness is a fundamental aspect of our personality. Well researched and evidenced, mental toughness describes how we respond mentally to stressors and pressure as well as opportunity and challenge. It describes ‘how we think’ when events occur and helps us to understand behaviour – ‘how we act’ – enabling users to explore and explain ‘why we act the way we do’.

This lies at the root of the coaching and mentoring process.

Over 250 peer reviewed academic papers shows that Mental Toughness is a major factor in:

Performance – explains up to 25% of the variation in attainment
Wellbeing – more contentment and better management of anxiety, stress and, depression
Agility – better ability to manage change and the pace of change
Aspirations – more positive about opportunities and open to learning.

A 2021 paper found a correlation between an individual’s level of mental toughness and their psychological responses to Covid 19.

Importantly, although mental toughness can provide an advantage for some, it is self-awareness about the level of mental toughness or mental sensitivity, that is key thriving and prospering. This is true for individuals as well as organisations.

Drawing upon the very latest global research and a truly global network of practitioners working within the corporate and education sectors, Professor Peter Clough and Doug Strycharczyk will provide an overview into to this important area.

The online event will look at this important area and will examine briefly:

What is mental toughness? The eight factors and why is it so important
How can we assess it reliably and create self-awareness about this key personality trait.
How can coaches develop it where needed and why can coaching be particularly effective here?
A brief overview of applications, research and, case studies.

In addition to this, take a glimpse into the ground-breaking research exploring the relationship between the big five, the dark triad, and mental toughness.

Each participant will be provided with the opportunity to complete the MTQPlus psychometric measure in full confidence and free of charge.

Watch a brief introduction to this online event here

Doug Strycharczyk is the CEO for AQR International, which was founded in 1989. AQR is now recognised as one of the most innovative (and fast growing) test publishers in the world, now working in more than 80 countries.

In recent years, Doug has worked with Professor Peter Clough to define mental toughness and to create the world's leading measure of mental toughness. Together with Dr John Perry, they have authored the leading text ‘Developing Mental Toughness’ 3^rd Ed 2021 (Kogan Page).

Doug is now recognised as a leading authority on the application of mental toughness to practitioners and organisations of all types. He is particularly interested in the interplay between leadership, mental toughness, and culture.

In 2021 he founded the International Centre for Mental Toughness R&D.

Professor Peter Clough. Whilst at the University of Hull (UK), Peter initiated a programme of work which led to the development of the 4Cs concept for mental toughness, which was published in 2002 and now is comfortably the most widely adopted description of mental toughness globally.

Since then, he has collaborated with researchers all over the world to examine the concept further and to identify links to important aspects of work and life. His name appears on more than 50 peer reviewed papers.

By inclination an applied psychologist, his work has always focused on real world issues. In recent times, he has been concerned with how the concept relates to concepts such as leadership, teamworking, and coaching.