Welcome to CEO Brain Food, a show aimed at providing key insights, fresh perspectives, and proven tools that CEOs can apply to build enterprise value, generate higher profits and develop the talent needed to succeed in their businesses. In this episode of CEO Brain Food, Michael breaks down the value and impact coaching can have on individuals, teams and organizations. Michael makes compelling arguments for why everyone, regardless of status, needs a coach. He identifies key roles that great coaches fulfill, including their ability to spot gaps in performance, reduce tension, and define the execution of strategies. Finally, Michael discusses how effective coaching can impact the three areas of leadership.
01:01 – Introducing today’s topic, coaching
01:41 – The preconceived notions about coaching
02:46 – The importance Michael places on reading
06:13 – Why everyone needs a coach
07:12 – Attributes of a great coach
09:15 – The golf example
09:51 – A compelling argument for having a coach
10:58 – How Michael views potential client needs
12:17 – Bill Campbell: The Trillion Dollar Coach
15:57 – The importance of having courage as a leader
18:47 – The communication rhythm within an organization
20:31 – Roles and responsibilities of a great coach
21:08 – Michael leaves the audience with a simple question to consider about coaching
21:21 – Michael recalls a recent client call he participated in
22:39 – The three-year swim lane plan
24:36 – Why everyone needs a coach
25:09 – The three areas of leadership: power, influence, and authority
25:43 – Considerations to make before hiring a coach
26:07 – Michael teases the topic of the next episode of CEO Brain Food
26:33 – Harry encourages the audience to share this podcast with others
TWEETABLE QUOTES
“Warren Buffet reads three hours a day. Bill Gates reads a book every two weeks. Mark Zuckerberg the same thing.” (03:35)
“As leaders, we cannot operate in a vacuum. What I’ve really come to discover is that we can’t do this ourselves. Everyone needs a coach.” (06:05)
“I had an old boss one time that was very fond of saying, ‘Hey, we need to step on the shoes without messing up the shine.’” (06:39)
“For any important endeavor, learning from the people who have found the recipe for success can take you to a higher performance level faster than any other known effort.” (09:05)
“This was probably Bill Campbell’s primary differentiator: getting people to work together, breaking down silos. He always advised his coaches that they need great people in the world of product creation.” (15:00)
“Consensus dumbs down the ideas and does not get you to the best option when you’re considering a series of options. What you want is deep debate, healthy debate, constructive criticism and healthy arguing.” (15:25)
“A coach helps to spot the gaps in performance, identifies behaviors that increase or reduce entropy within the organization.” (17:32)
“One of the favorite quotes that I have of Bill Campbell’s is ‘You may have a title of manager, but your people are gonna decide if you’re their leader’” (20:58)
“It’s very important to realize that you don’t have all the answers and be willing to accept that a coach can take you to a higher level.” (24:50)
“If you’re able to influence others, and you look over your shoulder and you find that people are following you, then you might consider yourself a leader at that point.” (25:35)
RESOURCE LINKS
The Future of Leadership Development Article
BOOK'S MENTIONED
Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell