James Lang is a prominent figure in rugby having played for Harlequins and now, Edinburgh Rugby. His impressive career has also already seen him capped at international level for Scotland. Initially representing Harlequins at schoolboy level, it was at his playing time at Welsh side, Rygbi Gogledd Cymru where he gained prominence in his rugby career and honed his skills at number 10. In 2018, James was selected as part of the Scottish squad for a summer tour to Canada, the United States, and Argentina, where he earned his first senior cap for Scotland. Already known for his strong and accurate kicking by the age of 22, James returned to the Harlequins academy and subsequently made successful appearances as a fly-half/inside centre for Harlequin's first team. After a 5-year contract at Harlequins, James went on to sign for United Rugby Championship side Edinburgh Rugby, where he retains the number 10 position. James’ rugby career has been shaped by dedication, hard work, and the ability to adapt and overcome the pressure a high-level sporting individual is exposed to. Not only does he thrive in this environment, he does it with humour and candour.
James Lang's talk focuses on strategies for overcoming challenges, emphasizing resilience and positive mindset in navigating life's inevitable setbacks and adversities.
Working under pressure. Some thrive on it and are able to work more effectively, others will struggle. Performing anything live always increases the amount of pressure. For professional rugby player, James Lang, though this is his norm: playing live games weekly and still being expected to perform every time. Understand how James is able to harness the power of pressure in his game and what it takes to play at professional and international levels in elite sports.
When playing in his no.10 shirt, professional rugby player James Lang must command the backline, calling upon his leadership skills. James’ decisions can have a real impact on the outcome of the game, just as the decisions many of us make at work do on the rest of our teams. Learn how James steps up to the leadership role required of him, even under the immense pressure of the game with tips on communication, confidence and more.
Having to perform at an elite level involves high levels of confidence both in yourself and the team around you. Without it, everything from decision-making to concentration can take a hit. In this talk, professional rugby player James Lang shares his examples of how confidence has been his ally and talks about the times he's lost confidence, the effects that has had on him and how he’s managed to rebuild it, even during the most challenging moments.
