ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author hopes to have painted a picture of the performance director’s (PD) role – primarily in Olympic and Paralympic sport – and some of the skills and approaches they require to lead effectively. Amplified by the levels of investment and interest in elite sport around the world, leading the ‘performance department’ or ‘arm’ of a sports organisation is an increasingly complex and dynamic role. The PD has become a key figure in elite sport systems. Although the success of the Olympic and Paralympic systems in the UK cannot be attributed to a single event, one particularly notable moment was the nation’s performance at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In terms of the understanding of where a PD has greatest impact, it is also important to note that a PD is invariably ‘one step removed’ from athletes, most of their staff, and actual ‘on the day’ performance.
