Coaching is the secret ingredient that propels ambitious people towards success.
Coaches save time by focusing and guiding hard work
Coaches help those who want to become good improve and those who are already good become great. All winners work hard – coaches save time and increase efficiency by focusing and guiding that work ethic.
I didn’t realise at the time how privileged I was to be coached as a tennis coach by Ian Barclay. Ian was the coach who took a madly ambitious young tennis fanatic called Pat Cash all the way to Wimbledon Champion.
Ian told me that before each match he simply said a version of the following to Pat: “Winning this match is easy, you just have to get the ball over the net one more time than him!” It worked. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pat Cash had a uniquely athletic approach to his game.
Having a coach is normal. Being coached is how we all learn and develop
Who doesn’t have a coach? Behind the successes, victories, and glory, there has always been hard work and coaches. Getting better with a coach goes back thousands of years before Aristotle – it is built in to how we work as humans; it is how we all grow, develop, and improve our performance.
Coaches disguised as parents taught us to walk and get dressed and become adults. Coaches disguised as driving instructors taught us to drive. Coaches disguised as teachers, lecturers, professors taught us to learn.
But then what happens? We want to show our independence. We want to go it alone. We want to do it on our own. But then what? Really successful people want to keep learning and never stop being coached.
So do people who have to perform at their best all of the time. Pilots and surgeons keep on learning and have to stay up to date. I like this. So do you. Isn’t continuous learning when leading a business important too?
Coaches help founders and CEOs navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of corporate leadership, politicians win campaigns, and athletes stretch, beat and redefine their personal bests.
While some prefer their coach to be a discreet resource, here is a selection of well-known achievers in business, politics and sport who have publicly discussed the role of coaching in their success.
Coaching in Business – Corporate Coaching is the least well known
It doesn’t matter what arena or stage you are on, in a boardroom, on a stage speaking to hundreds of people, or pitching or presenting – to win, you have be better than the others.
CEOs and leaders have to navigate their businesses through unpredictable and perilous waters. A coach helps them maximise opportunities and avoid mistakes. A second pair of eyes, another perspective – same goals. This is even more critical in the digital age, where words, images and videos can go viral in minutes.
1. Bill Gates has credited his success to the guidance he received from his coach, Warren Buffett. Buffett’s business acumen and strategic insights shaped Gates’ approach to business and philanthropy.
2. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s former Chief Operating Officer, is known for her leadership skills. She attributes her success to the coaching and mentorship she received throughout her career, which helped her develop as a leader and navigate challenging situations.
3. Eric Schmidt, the former chairman of Google and Alphabet, bluntly describes his views on coaching. “Everyone needs a coach.”
Political Coaching is as old as politics
1. Barack Obama had a strong relationship with his campaign coach and strategist, David Axelrod. Axelrod’s coaching played a crucial role in shaping Obama’s messaging and campaign strategy, contributing to his successful election. Obama also retained a Speaker Coach and Speech Writers.
2. Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, was widely praised for her strong leadership in Europe before the Ukraine war. She has mentioned the guidance and advice she received from mentors and coaches throughout her political career, which helped her navigate complex international issues. Helmut Kohl mentored the young scientist and helped her transition to political leader.
3. Bill Clinton is easily in my top ten communicator list, but he wasn’t always the greatest speaker. He benefited from speaker coaching from Michael Sheehan, who also helped Obama. Isn’t it hard to imagine that Bill Clinton was booed off stage at a Democrat conference because his speech was so badly delivered?
Sometimes coaching is older than politics. I have coached over 175 Members of the United Kingdom Parliament, most of whom came to me to help them get into politics.
Sports Coaching is the most well known and acknowledged
1. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan worked closely with coaches, including Phil Jackson. Jackson’s coaching philosophy and strategic insights were instrumental in helping Jordan and the Chicago Bulls secure multiple NBA championships.
2. Tennis superstar Serena Williams has attributed her success to her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. His guidance and technical expertise helped Williams refine her game and maintain her dominance in women’s tennis.
3. Sarina Wiegman’s phenomenal contribution to England Women’s football is universally acknowledged. She transformed England into a competitive and resilient team.
“Her record for England has been nothing short of extraordinary… She has taken a side which had shown great potential in 2019 and drawn out its full potential.
BBC Sport’s Emma Smith
The Role of a Communication Coach and Consigliere for CEOs
Like the trusted, seldom-seen advisors in historical royal courts, the modern-day communications consigliere is a confidante who skillfully and discreetly coaches, pushes and guides CEOs and leaders away from danger and failure and towards success.
The coach or consiglieri has to possess the acumen to navigate shifting complexities, the foresight to anticipate challenges, and the insights to transform obstacles into stepping stones and threats into opportunities.
But… above all, they have to understand the people, politics and dynamics involved. The CEO/Consigliere relationship is founded on total trust, brutal candour, and a shared commitment to achieving ambitious goals.
Does this make sense to you? Do you want to explore more? Feel free to click away now, or contact me now for a chemistry test. We can discuss your situation – where you are now and where your want to be.
