#0419  –  The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek

#0419 – The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek

Author: Jon S. Rennie March 8, 2026 Duration: 32:20
The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure Why do talented athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs sometimes lose confidence in the moments that matter most? In this episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast, I sit down with mindset coach Scott Papek to explore why even high performers struggle with pressure, overthinking, and self-doubt. Scott works with athletes from middle school through college, helping them build the mental skills needed to compete with confidence. Together they discuss how confidence is actually trained, why negative self-talk and fear of judgment sabotage performance, and how focusing on effort instead of outcomes can dramatically improve results. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why confidence comes from preparation and belief• The real reason people choke under pressure• How self-talk impacts performance• Why worrying about what others think kills confidence• How athletes train their minds to perform at their best If you want to perform better under pressure, whether in sports, business, or leadership, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and building better teams. Scott Papek's Resources: https://www.maxoutmindset.com/ Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cadre of Men⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Farrow Skin Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salty Sailor Coffee Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leader Connect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Qualified Leadership Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who’s ever felt that leadership advice can be too theoretical or disconnected from reality, Deep Leadership offers a grounded alternative. Host Jon S. Rennie operates from a simple, powerful belief: “Leadership is a People Business.” This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s about the tangible, often messy work of guiding teams and organizations. Jon brings a unique perspective shaped by his time as a Cold War Submarine Officer and over two decades leading within Corporate America before founding his own manufacturing company. In each episode, he translates that extensive experience into practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately. The conversations here delve into the core of what makes leadership work-or fail-across business, culture, and society. You’ll hear from Jon and a variety of expert guests as they explore the philosophical and practical dimensions of guiding people, discussing everything from daily management challenges to broader cultural forces that shape how we work. This podcast is built on the conviction that leadership matters profoundly, and that getting it right requires depth, reflection, and a relentless focus on the human element. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise and get to the heart of leading well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 424

Deep Leadership
Podcast Episodes
#0033 – Leadership Substance not Style with Steven Mays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:38
Have you ever considered that some of the best leaders in history had vastly different personalities and leadership styles? Think of General George Patton and Gandhi for example. Both are considered highly influential le…
#0032 – Blue Collar Leadership with Mack Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:24
If you love the sights, sounds, and smells of manufacturing like me, you are in for a treat. Today I’m joined by Mack Story. Mack served in the Marines and spent most of his career working and leading in manufacturing bu…
#0031 – Leadership Mental Health with Evan Whitehead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
Today we’re going to talk about an often-ignored subject of leadership - mental health. My guest today is Evan Whitehead. Evan has spent most of his career in education as a teacher, a coach, and in a variety of educatio…
#0030 – Driven to Succeed with Fred Stuvek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:45
In this episode, we’re talking about success. My guest today is Fred Stuvek. Fred played quarterback for the Naval Academy, served as a Naval Officer, Led global businesses including start-ups, and now he is an author. F…
#0029 - Leadership Decision Making with Matthew Confer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:11
Today I’m joined by Matthew Confer. Matthew is the head of Strategy & Business Development for Abilitie. Abilitie is a leadership development company that offers team-based leadership simulations. Matthew has observed hu…
#0028 – Leadership Made Simple with Neal Woodson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:21
Today I’m joined by Neal Woodson. Neal has more than 30 years of leadership experience across a wide range of environments, including restaurants, retail, education, and the event technology industry. He is the author of…
#0027 – Leading after a Disaster with Jason Wenschlag [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:30
What would you do - as a leader - if you were traveling on business and found out there was a major explosion at your workplace and two employees were killed? This happened to my guest, Jason Wenschlag. As a high school…
#0025 - Life after COVID with John O'Connor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
Today I’m joined by John O'Connor. John is a former US Army Officer and President of Career Pro Inc. For the past 30 years, he has been coaching executives and helping people in their career transitions. I met John when…
#0024 - Failure is Not the Problem with Colonel George Milton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
Today I’m joined by George Milton. George is a highly decorated retired U.S. Army Colonel with more than 30 years of leadership experience. He is also the author of a new book called Failure Is Not The Problem. This book…