Kerri Pottharst

How many tasks have you thought were impossible? How many times have you felt there are too many obstacles between you and your goal? A business team, like a sports team, is capable of exceptional performance. You just need the correct tools and, most importantly, the right mentality and vision.

In order to claim gold during an against-all-odds win versus beach volleyball giants Brazil at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Kerri Pottharst and her playing partner Natalie Cook had to overcome their own fear and doubt. Having been defeated 16 times in a row by the seemingly unbeatable world champions, Pottharst and Cook didn't fancy their chances.

"We'd lined up against them many times and just thought that they were unbeatable," Pottharst explains. "Most of the teams in the world thought they were unbeatable. So when we realised that we thought they were unbeatable, we also realised that there were plenty of other things in our lives that we thought were unachievable. One of those things was walking barefoot on broken shards of glass!"

Having created one of the most memorable moments of the Olympic Games by winning gold, Pottharst now takes organisational teams through the exact same process that took her to the impossible pinnacle of world sport. The powerful session helps staff overcome fear and doubt, convinces them to push past limitations and bolsters personal belief. And, just as Pottharst's gold medal training did, the session ends with a walk over broken glass.

"I was an ordinary person who did something extraordinary," Pottharst, who has represented Australia in sport for 20 years, says. "How did this happen? What steps did it take? It wasn't just a fluke, there was a lot of goal setting and there was a definite plan put in place before we could succeed. This is exactly the way it should be for teams and leaders in business."

"But when it came to overcoming the most difficult obstacle - the battle against Brazil for the gold medal, the biggest issue was, in fact, a simple one. It was about changing our thought pattern, realising nothing is impossible". The volleyball legend now coaches and mentors other elite athletes in the areas of self development and success - teaching others to be better than they ever dreamed, and showing them how they can perform consistently at this enhanced level again and again.

Kerri Pottharst, who in 2007 was also honoured with an induction into the elite Volleyball Hall of Fame for superior teamwork, knows success and knows what it takes to build a team and to overcome all obstacles. With her down-to-Earth, approachable style she's now sharing her powerful knowledge with organisations to turn their staff into formidable teams sharing one common goal and shooting for the stars.

PRESENTATION TOPICS

Overcoming Fear and Doubt
The single greatest obstacle to a team performing at their peak and beyond is a defeatist mental attitude. Change that thought pattern and the people representing your business will go from good to great. Kerri demonstrates, using examples from her international sporting career, how she and other great athletes have changed their outlook for spectacular results.

Pushing Your Limitations
Everybody sets limits for themselves, but how often do you question those limits? Why settle for average when you can have outstanding? Through her own experience and via her consultation to other elite sportspeople Kerri has learnt how to raise these limits, how to accept that we can all be champions and how to make that happen as a team.

Building Elite Teams
Nothing has been more important throughout Kerri's two decades of representing her country than teamwork. When teamwork breaks down in sport the results are upsetting. When teamwork breaks down in business the results are disastrous. Better communication, clear leadership, shared vision, support, flexibility and a solid game plan are all ingredients to make up the perfect team, and they're all traits Kerri will drill into staff during a presentation full of fun and learning.

The Power of Personal Belief
In sport, in business and in personal life, so much relies on personal belief - that unshakeable confidence which all champions share. At the end of a session with Kerri, after the feared and revered walk across broken glass, staff will have a new vision of themselves. They will also have the tools with which to constantly update and fine tune their personal belief, giving them a new outlook on life and work.

Client Ovations: What a great speaker, gave the audience a terrific story in a well paced and highly entertaining presentation, great attitude and a professional.

ANZ Bank

Kerri's presentation was sensational and the combination of her talk with the glass walking worked perfectly. Her preparation and understanding of our current issues was also sensational. An incredible experience with a lasting impact.

Proctor and Gamble

Kerri delivered an outstanding address as part of Westpac boardroom dinner, keeping her audience enthralled in her sporting experiences both on and off the field. Kerri is easy to listen too, delivering her messages in an down to earth, intimate and candid way.

Westpac Banking Corporation

Kerri is extremely down to earth and has the rare ability of being able to communicate with all levels of the community.

Suncorp

Kerri had taken the time to plan her presentation to incorporate the theme of our conference. The actual presentation was a highly entertaining mix of anecdotes from her Olympic experience blended with the motivational tools Kerri used to achieve her goals

Health Services Supply Association

I just wanted to thank you personally for your fabulous contribution to our Golf Day Dinner yesterday. Without doubt, your address made the evening and everyone was so impressed by how down to earth and "real" you are, while at the same time being such an accomplished speaker with such an amazing story to tell. The glass walk was a big hit too!!!! Each time I see you speak, I enjoy the delivery as much as I did the first time I saw you speak and I know that when we refer you to our clients, we can be 100% confident that you will wow their audience!!

Conference Call (Australia) Pty Ltd

Thanks Kerri for a brilliant and inspiring presentation at our Christmas dinner. Your ability to connect with our group in a down-to-earth and personable way left a lasting impression on all of us. You were a hot talking topic around the office in the week that followed, which is a clear sign of the positive and memorable impact you made.

E*TRADE Australia