What does sports psychology really do for elite athletes? In this episode of Small Talk: Work | Play | Build, sports psychologist Dr. Chaitanya Sridhar breaks down how mindset, identity and team dynamics shape performance — and why most of what we call ‘motivation’ isn’t the actual job. We unpack what the field looks like in India, where it’s underdeveloped, and how aspiring professionals can build a real career in it.

In this episode of Small Talk, we explore the mental side of sport, what actually drives performance when talent, training, and opportunity are already in place.

Featuring Dr. Chaitanya, sports psychologist working closely with athletes and teams across levels, this conversation goes deep into mindset, team dynamics, and the often misunderstood role of psychology in sport.

From working with elite athletes to navigating team environments, she shares how performance is shaped not just by skill, but by identity, belief systems, relationships, and the ability to handle pressure. We unpack what sports psychology really looks like in practice, why it’s still underdeveloped in India, and the difference between real expertise and surface-level coaching.

This episode moves beyond motivation into something more fundamental, how athletes think, how teams function, and what it takes to build sustainable high performance.

If you’ve ever wondered what separates good athletes from great ones, or how mental strength is actually built, this conversation will change how you see sport.

---------------------

This episode is part of our mini-series: The Careers Behind Indian Sports

Exploring the people, pathways, and professions shaping the future of sport in India, beyond what you see on the field.

---------------------

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights

00:52 Intro

02:30 Meet the Guest

09:10 What Sports Psychology Really Is

18:45 Individual vs Team Performance

30:20 Mindset, Belief & Early Influences

42:00 Transitions, Identity & Athlete Careers

55:10 Inside Team Dynamics & Case Studies

01:08:30 The Reality of Sports Psychology in India

01:18:40 Careers & Pathways in the Field

01:28:10 Advice for Aspiring Professionals

01:36:00 Read Watch Listen

————

Small Talk: Work, Play, Build is the latest season of Small Talk. As a business podcast in its fifth year of production now, we look forward to having many conversations with you on what it means to live a life that feels true to each of us, both at work and outside of it.

📅 New episodes every fortnight

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkpod_wpb

🌐 Website: https://www.smalltalkpod.com

📩 Media enquiries: smalltalkpod.wpb@gmail.com

Copyright © Rainkraft Creative Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. No segment of this episode or its accessories may be reproduced for commercial use without explicit written permission from the creators.

Small Talk: Work, Play, Build

Subha Chandrasekaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhachandrasekaran/) Hasita Krishna (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasita/)

---------------------