Hi Reader

Ever notice how you can often feel stuck? But that the men and women you consider to be successful sports leaders seem to see things others miss?

In my own career and in working with head coaches, managers & other leaders within sports teams/clubs I’ve seen that it's rarely about having better answers.

It's about asking better questions.

The gap between the chasing pack and the good & great often hides in plain sight - in the questions you never thought to ask.

The Blind Spot Nobody Talks About

I can see clearly now that the top 10% of sports leaders don't just work smarter than their peers. They out-question them.

While most ask: "How can we get better results?", top leaders will ask: "Are we focused on the right results?"

This shift changes everything.

I've watched sports directors, head coaches, and performance leaders transform their careers by asking five specific questions (connected to my 5C Legacy Leadership Way) that most avoid.

A word of warning; these questions feel uncomfortable. That's why they work. Let's get started on them......

Your Read Time today is = 5 minutes..Remember to connect with me on social channels like X and Instagram​

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The Questions You're Not Asking....

Question 1: CHARACTER - "What am I pretending not to know?"

Observation: When I ask this question in coaching sessions, 9 out of 10 leaders immediately look away. Their body knows the answer before their mind admits it.

Insight: Your greatest growth isn't hidden in what you don't know. It's hiding in what you don't want to face.

Use: After your next leadership meeting, take 4-5 minutes alone. Write this question at the top of a blank page. Write the first answer that comes to mind - no overthinking, no editing. What you write will often reveal where your next breakthrough waits.

Question 2: COMPETENCE - "Where am I the bottleneck?"

Observation: Leaders who struggle to scale their impact often grip tightly to the skills that got them noticed.

Insight: Your technical expertise built your reputation. But now it might be blocking your team's growth and your own advancement.

Use: Track your next three days in 30-minute blocks. Mark each block where only you could do that work. If it's more than 40% of your time, you've found your growth ceiling. Pick one area to systemise or delegate. As soon as possible.

Question 3: CAPABILITY - "What story am I telling myself?"

Observation: Behind every performance plateau lies a limiting narrative on repeat.

Insight: Your brain creates stories to explain results. "I'm not good with data" or "I can't manage difficult personalities" aren't facts. They're bullshit stories that become self-fulfilling.

Use: When facing resistance, ask: "What would I do if this story weren't true?" Then do exactly that - just once - as an experiment. Most breakthrough moments start with proving a limiting story wrong. But you’ve got to grasp the nettle, ask the question and go with the answer.

Question 4: CARE - "Whose growth am I neglecting—including my own?"

Observation: Under pressure, 76% of the leaders I've tracked prioritise short-term results over long-term development.

Insight: This creates a dangerous cycle: pressure leads to neglected growth, which creates more pressure. The leaders who break this cycle win twice—better results now and stronger teams later.

Use: Create a simple growth grid: list your team members down one side, key skills across the top. Decide obvious areas each person needs to develop. Review it weekly & monthly for actions and progress alongside your performance metrics. Energy flows where focus goes. What gets tracked gets addressed.

Question 5: CHOICES - "What would I do if I weren't afraid?"

Observation: Career-defining moments rarely announce themselves. They hide in everyday choices between comfort and courage.

Insight: Fear wears sophisticated disguises: practicality, patience, process, precedent. But you’ve created those narratives. Strip these away and see which options remain.

Use: Before your next big decision, try the 10-10-10 method: How will this choice affect me in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years? Fear shrinks when faced with this timeline test.

The Question That Changes Everything

These five questions lead to one master question about your CAUSE.

What is driving you?

When you understand this ask, "Am I playing to win or playing not to lose?".

I’m not talking literally but bringing into share focus whether you’re running away from something or running too something. Therein lies that power of Legacy Leadership - you are focused on setting foundations or adding layers for something great to sustain the test of time.

Playing not to lose keeps you safe but capped.

Playing to win feels risky but removes the ceiling.

The coaches and leaders who transform their fields don't just climb the career ladder—they reinvent it. They’re driven out of bed each day by the thought of contributing to a cause so compelling and engaging that if daunts them and inspires them in equal measure.

It’s the cause that gives you the butterfly feeling in your stomach each time you think of it.

It’s the cause that boils your emotions to the point where you can feel it in your chest.

You know those feelings? You know that cause?

Your Decision Point

The most telling thing about this newsletter?

Which question made you most uncomfortable.

That's not random. That's your next growth edge calling.

Pick that single question. Put it somewhere you'll see daily for one week. Write down your honest answers.

Then watch what shifts.

The questions you avoid hold the power to change your game.

Which one will you face first?

P.S. I'm curious—which question hit closest to home for you? Reply with just the number (1-5). I'll share what patterns emerge next week.

​Last week we spoke about The ‘Reset’ process. It's never easy. A little more help, prompt and assistance might help.

PPS. Want my "Momentum Reset" guide? It’s coming soon and I’ll offer you complimentary access. Just drop me a quick email to paul@theleaders.coach and I’ll send it on to you in the coming 1-2 weeks.

Interested in more leadership strategies, insights & frameworks to help you perform better?

Have you had a look at my online Leadership Course where we focused on 6 proven principles that will help you stand out as a leader - you can get more detail here and use 'Leader33' discount code for your exclusive community discount.

Also check out my YouTube channel: Paul Clarke - The Leaders Coach.

Let’s connect: On X and Linkedin

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A Master's Voice....

From the word go listen to what people are saying. Listen to what they're not saying. Listen to their body language. Understand them. Make connections. Bring people with you. You're only a leader once you have followers.

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Thank you for being part of the Leaders Coach community. The work on how to lead better is something you have to do alone. But you don't have to do it on your own. Onward and Upward, Paul Clarke

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