Damian Hughes

Damian Hughes expertly combines his practical experience and academic background in sports, organisational development, and change psychology to assist organisations and teams in cultivating a culture of high performance.

With eight bestselling business books under his belt – such as Liquid Thinking, Liquid Leadership, How to Change Absolutely Anything, How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson, and The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset – Damian has demonstrated his profound knowledge and insights.

His 2023 books, How Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best, and How to Change Your Life, have both been number one Sunday Times bestsellers. His books have already been translated into a dozen languages.

He is also the co-host with Jake Humphrey of The High-Performance Podcast, which has featured some of the leading figures in business and sports spheres with over 100 million downloads and counting.

To book business performance coach Damian Hughes for your next corporate or training event contact us at Great British Speakers

Type Of Talent

Business & FinanceHigh PerformanceKeynoteLeadership & TeamworkMotivationalPersonal DevelopmentResilienceSport

More About Damian Hughes

Along with his business coaching duties, Damian Hughes was named as a visiting Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Change at Manchest Metropolitan University in 2010. He has also worked as part of the coaching team for England Rugby League, England Roses, and Scotland Rugby Union, along with a range of global sporting teams. He is also the founder of Coats4Kids, a charity that addresses the challenge of children living in poverty by providing coats to those in most need.

Damian Hughes and the High Performance Podcast

Alongside sports broadcaster Jake Humphrey, Damian presents a highly regarded series of interviews with elite performers from various domains, including business, sports, and the arts. Through these interviews, Damian delves into the psychology that underpins sustained high performance.

The high Performance Podcast Damian Hughes Jake Humphrey at Great British Speakers

Damian Hughes | Speaking Topics

Unlocking the DNA of a High Performing Culture: Damian demystifies the culture-building process by identifying five key points to generate resilience, cooperation, and cohesion, and explains how a diverse group can learn how to function as a single mind.

The Winning Mindset: Damian explores how the highest-performing people successful face change, and how you can too. He draws on his own interviews with record-setting athletes, Olympic coaches, and leading business founders, and introduces his five simple steps to get you to where you want to be.

The Business of Winning and Sustaining Success: Damian explores the trademark behaviours that define us at our best and how we can consistently maintain them.

How to Change Absolutely Anything: Damian explores the three stages of change – ridicule, opposition, and acceptance. He believes that understanding these stages will mean we are less hindered, and more likely to have the courage to help bring about change.

High Performance Lessons: Damian uses real-life testimonies from his podcast to examine the secrets of the world’s highest performing people, as well as explaining the psychology behind why these methods have such a transformative impact.

Damian Hughes | Author

Damian’s most recent book, titled High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best (2023), reached the top spot on the Sunday Times best seller list, affirming its widespread acclaim. Notably, his works have been translated into ten different languages, showcasing their international appeal.

In addition to his literary accomplishments, Damian Hughes has received recognition for his sports biographies. His biography of boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, titled Peerless, earned him a nomination for the prestigious 2007 William Hill Sports book of the year award. He further co-authored the critically acclaimed biography of Thomas Hearns, called Hitman: the Thomas Hearns Story, in 2009. Moreover, his biography on Marvelous Marvin Hagler became the best-selling sports biography in the UK in 2013.

Damian Hughes | Sports Performance Coaching

Adding to his impressive portfolio, Damian Hughes has actively contributed to numerous sports teams, serving as a member of the coaching staff for England Rugby League, England Roses, Scotland Rugby Union, as well as other national and international sporting teams. His insights and guidance have undoubtedly played a significant role in elevating their performances.

Watch ‘How Peak Performers Find the Path to Courage’ | Damian Hughes | TEDx Manchester

Damian Hughes’ multifaceted expertise, ranging from writing best-selling books to coaching elite teams, positions him as a leading figure in the fields of sports psychology, high performance, and organisational development.

Damian Hughes Speaking Clients

Mars, Virgin Money, Boots, Unilever, British Gas, SKY, John Lewis, Argos, Nestle Waters, McDonald’s, Nationwide, Santander, BAE Systems.

To book performance speaker Damian Hughes for your next corporate or training event contact us at Great British Speakers. Email bookings@greatbritishtalent.com or call +44 1753 439 289

Testimonials

Seven years ago Damian inspired, provoked and challenged me when I attended one of his Liquid Thinking sessions and I have incorporated my learnings from this session into every part of my life personal and professional. Seven years on and Damian has done it again. Using thought-provoking and inspiring stories he has challenged and inspired us and more importantly given us a common language with which we all can use. Thank you Damian!
Emma Mirrington, Head of Talent, Mars Chocolate UK

Damian spoke at a recent leadership event. He was the end of day speaker and his insightful, down to earth, plain speaking style kept the whole audience engaged for the entire time he spoke. Damian’s mix of theory and real life examples gave everyone something to think about and provided some easy to try tips for use in everyday life and as the leader of teams. The team who participated in the session were unanimous in their positive view of the content, delivery and practical application of the messages, which fitted perfectly with the key messages from the rest of the event. I would recommend Damian as a speaker who will bring theory to life in an engaging way and who will leave your team talking about it long after the event.
Louise Alford, Director of Business HR, BskyB

Having read this book, I am flattered that I have been presented as a role model and am delighted to be asked by Damian to offer a foreword for Liquid Thinking. As someone that has achieved many of my own personal goals and experienced the satisfaction from doing so, I would recommend that you adopt the lessons and techniques, which are captured in this excellent book, to greatly assist you in achieving your own ambitions. Go ahead. Take the plunge and become a fellow liquid thinker.
Sir Richard Branson

Damian injected a huge amount of energy into our event. Delegates were inspired by his sessions, which got everyone thinking differently. If you want to create a buzz and inspire people to be the best they can, invite Damian to deliver at your event.
Ollie Holt, Coaching System Manager, Sports Coach UK

Damian was asked to help our team think about engaging an organisation after a period of significant change. He inspired the room with his down to earth approach, fabulous stories and really challenged our thinking on what effective communication really is. I would recommend Damian as a speaker for any group looking for new thinking and inspirational leadership ideas; delivered in a way that really makes you challenge yourself and consider why you didn’t think of that because it’s explained in such a simple common sense way.
Clare Hall, Senior Vice President, People, McDonald’s

Damian has a really rich experience across many sectors. His involvement with leading sporting organisations provides an insight, outside of the normal business environment, that challenges the way that individuals approach change and deliver winning results through the team. Damian always scores highly in feedback. People will leave these sessions really challenging themselves on what they need to do differently to deliver success. His communication of the key points is enhanced by the use of many different media.
David Goadby, Sales Director, British Gas

Very rarely in my experience do you speak to people who have attended a one-day Corporate event and phrases such as “extremely thought provoking’, “I am determined to do something with those ideas”, “enjoyed every minute” and “great practical advice” trip off the tongue so readily. This is exactly what happened though, following a session that Damian ran for us about behaviours and developing high performing teams. All who attended seem to have taken something from the session and we’ve already seen tripwires being put in place! Booking Damian for our latest management off-site has been proven to be a very sound decision. Aside from his obvious expertise and enthusiasm for the subject of self development and team dynamics, Damian was able to relate to an office environment and transform what people may think only applies to elite sporting teams, into actions anyone can use and implement.
Richard Bowden, Head of Process & Change Management, Santander