By day, Jenny Smatt runs human resource company Ontru, helping corporate executives and firms with staff development and training.

In her spare time she manages Five Rings, an organisation devoted to improving athletic performance.

While the sports arena and the boardroom seem like worlds apart to some people, Ms Smatt said the people in them actually have a lot in common.

“The primary areas of similarity are with respect to setting goals,” she said. “That is relevant for everyone. Both demographics are aiming for success and they need help clarifying success.”

She sees high achievers, stereotypical type A personalities, in athletes as well as in the corporate environment.

“It is really about that performance mindset,” she said. “In both settings the opportunity is to augment the traditional training or focus on strategies to complement the foundation skills.”

She set up Five Rings five years ago, primarily to improve the performance of swimmers.

Now, she is adding another pillar to the business, opening up mindset coaching to local athletes from different sports, ages and success levels.

“I am looking to offer an additional element to local athletes that allows them to compete better and achieve their best results,” she said.

Starting this week, Five Rings is teaming up with sports psychologist Tony Tucci, who works out of the Impact Sports Lab in Boston, Massachusetts offering both athletic development and mindset training.

Dr Tucci will be in Bermuda for the Performance Mindset Series, offering one-hour seminars from May 5 to 7 on a range of topics.

Leveraging the Power of Sports Psychology – Developing the Performance Mindset, for example, is aimed at coaches, and Controlling the Inner Voice is for athletes who struggle with negative self-talk and self-doubt prior to competition.

There are also workshops on readying yourself for competition and helping your child with athletics.

There will also be a breakfast on Sunday May 7 for coaches and administrators who wish to integrate the development of the performance mindset seen in most leading-edge sports programmes.

Ms Smatt said people often talk about sports psychology in terms of an issue that needs fixing.

“But that is not always the case,” she said. “Working with a sports psychologist can be an opportunity to develop strategies proactively to enhance performance and achieve consistency. A psychologist can work on specific mental skills that build confidence.”

Swimmers, runners, boxers and gymnasts have signed up for the Performance mindset Series with Dr Tucci.

“We have attempted, to make this affordable,” Ms Smatt said. “It is $25 to attend group sessions and $50 for Sunday breakfast.

“We also have individual one-on-one sessions with Dr Tucci. He has worked with a number of local athletes via Zoom. This is an opportunity to connect in person.”

Ms Smatt took part in three swim events in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and now coaches the Harbour Gold Squad with a number of her clients qualifying for events such as the Pan American Games.