Doug Strycharczyk

Doug Strycharczyk is the CEO of AQR International, which he founded in 1989.

In this capacity, Doug is now recognised a global authority on the application of the mental toughness concept and, with AQR, has worked in 80 countries in almost every sector imaginable – business, public service, education, health, social mobility, sport, etc., and with practitioners of all types.

In collaboration with Prof Peter Clough and Dr John Perry, since 1994, he has been instrumental in in creating a high quality psychometric, MTQPlus, for this concept.

Prior to this, Doug had established a reputation for helping leaders to transform organisations through developing a team working culture. Pioneering in its day, the work embraced ideas of employee engagement, performance improvement and fostering and motivation.

One project, at Champion Spark Plug, was featured on BBC TV where it was described by Prof John Adair as “unique and highly effective”.

His focus remains on developing individuals and organisations – especially in adopting the mental toughness concept in connecting leadership and employee development through creating cultures which embrace resilience, positivity and team working.

Doug has authored the following leading books:

Developing Mental Toughness 3rd Edition (Kogan Page 2021) with John Perry and Peter Clough

Developing Resilient Organizations (Kogan Page, 2014) with Charles Elvin

Developing Employability and Enterprise (Kogan Page, 2015) with Charlotte Bosworth

He has contributed to many other books including

Psychometrics in Coaching (Kogan Page/Association for Coaching, 2009), Leadership Coaching (Kogan Page/Association for Coaching, 2015), and Coaching in Education (2011).

With Dr John Perry, Professor Tony Wall and Professor Peter Clough, Doug has contributed two chapters on mental toughness to the Encyclopaedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Health and Wellbeing (Springer, 2018)

Finally, Doug has collaborated with Darren Whysall for more than 10 years. He has learned much of that he knows about coaching from Darren.

Doug holds a first-class honours degree in economics.

E-mail Doug at doug@aqr.co.uk