Personal profile
Personal profile
Sophia Jowett PhD is a leading authority on the power of relationships in performance. A former Professor and current Research Fellow at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, her work has reshaped how we understand the role of human connection in sport, the arts, education, and business.
At the heart of her research lies a simple but transformative idea: no one achieves in a vacuum. Sophia has spent her career uncovering how the quality of two-person relationships, between coach and athlete, teacher and student, leader and performer, can make or break performance, wellbeing, and success. Her work has moved relationships from the margins to the centre of performance thinking.
Her research, funded by leading bodies including the Economic and Social Research Council, UK Sport, and the British Academy, has influenced practice across the globe. She has worked with some of the world’s most high-performing environments, including Formula 1, Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre, the Australian Institute of Sport, The FA, and US Soccer.
Sophia also operated at the very highest level of sport, serving as a psychologist for the Greek team at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Her message is clear and compelling:
Relationships are not a “soft” side of performance, they are the foundation of it.
Sophia is Associate Fellow and Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society.
Research interests
interpersonal relationships, two-person relationship (teacher-music student), relationship maintenance strategies (openness, motivational, assurance), communication, psychological safety, dynamic teaming, leadership thriving work environments, performance and wellbeing, qualitative and quantitative research designs
External positions
Assistant Editor, Journal - International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
1 Sept 2024 → …
Director and Founder Tandem Performance https://tandemperformanceconsulting.com
Keywords
- H Social Sciences (General)
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Psychological Safety, Interpersonal Trust and Personal Flourishing: What’s in it for Coaches
Jowett, S. & Andrade do Nascimento Junior, J. R., 2026, In: International Journal of Sport Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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25 years of relationship research in sport: The quality of the coach-athlete relationship as defined by Closeness, Commitment, Complementarity and Co-orientation (3+1Cs)
Jowett, S., 2025, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
13 Citations (Scopus) -
Building strong partnerships: Understanding the mechanisms by which quality coach-athlete relationships affect objective performance in professional cricket
Jowett, S., Phillips, K., Krukowska-Burke, A. & Rhind, D., Sept 2025, In: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. 21, 1, p. 19-29 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Paradoxical leadership, athlete well-being, and performance satisfaction: The mediating role of the coach-athlete relationship
Jowett, S., Arnold, R., Hu, B. & Fletcher, D., Oct 2025, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 44, 2, p. 1-11 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure) -
Psychological Predictors of Mental Well-Being in Judo Athletes: Exploring the Impacts of The Coach-Athlete Relationship, Social Support, and Psychological Safety
Jowett, S., Şenel, E., Küttel , A. & Adiloğulları, İ., Apr 2025, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 79, 3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
8 Citations (Scopus)