#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
#0363  –  Leading with Influence with John Marvin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Today, I’m joined by John Marvin, and we're discussing Leading with Influence. John is a visionary entrepreneur, acclaimed columnist, and influential leader dedicated to empowering others to unlock their full potential.…
#0362  –  Becoming the Best Boss Ever with Don Frericks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:51
Today, I’m joined by Don Frericks, and we're talking about becoming the best boss ever. Don is a seasoned leadership development expert with over 25 years of experience transforming managers into extraordinary leaders. H…
#0360  –  Fit For Success with Nick Shaw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:04
Today, I’m joined by Nick Shaw, and we're discussing how to be Fit For Success. Nick is the Founder and CEO of RP Strength, a multi-million dollar company that helps people achieve their health and fitness goals through…
#0359  –  Discovering Your Leadership Superpowers with Aneace Haddad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:56
Today, I’m joined by Aneace Haddad, and we're discussing the topic of Discovering Your Leadership Superpowers. Aneace is a seasoned C-Suite Executive Coach and McKinsey Senior Advisor. He has a wealth of experience and e…
#0358  –  Becoming a Value Creation Leader with Lee Benson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:23
Today, I’m joined by Lee Benson, and we're talking about Becoming a Value Creation Leader. Lee is a value creation expert with over 30 years of experience in the business world. He founded and led seven companies, includ…
#0357  –  Human-Centered Leadership with Wendi Swanson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:56
Today, I’m joined by Wendi Swanson, and we're discussing Human-Centered Leadership. Wendi is an internationally recognized strategic leadership consultant, facilitator, and program developer. For the last two decades, We…
#0356  –  Energizing Employees with Lindsay Tsang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:14
Today, I’m joined by Lindsay Tsang, and we are discussing the subject of Energizing Employees. Lindsay is the founder of Happy Hires, a company focused on transforming toxic work environments into places where people are…
#0355 –  Mastering Financial Leadership with Cary Prejean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:54
Today, I’m joined by Cary Prejean, and we're discussing Mastering Financial Leadership. Cary is the President, CEO, and founder of Strategic Business Advisors and brings over 35 years of expertise to growing businesses.…
#0354  –  Executive Presence with Alexa Chilcutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
Today, I’m joined by Alexa Chilcutt, and we're discussing Executive Presence. Alexa is the Faculty Lead for the Business Communication Certification Program and the Co-lead for the Academy for Women and Leadership at Joh…