December 13, 2024 Hi Reader I've been thinking about a common leadership issue. Ever feel like something’s not quite right with your team, but you can’t put your finger on it? You’re doing the work; the strategy & tactical sessions, the precise training load and prescription, the one-to-ones — but the results just don’t match the effort. The energy isn’t there. The decision-making is hesitant. It’s like the gears are grinding, but they’re not fully meshing. You start questioning yourself. Is...
14 days ago • 5 min read
December 6, 2024 Hi Reader Do you ever feel like you're smack-bang in the middle of a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, frantically trying to keep up with the relentless pace and incessant demands of leadership? You’re not alone. Quite often I seem to be having ‘Groundhog Day’ conversations with the sports leaders I work with 1-1. It’s not unfair to say that a huge number of head coaches, managers, heads of department etc are struggling with this one. When it comes to leadership we’d all...
21 days ago • 4 min read
November 29, 2024 Hey Reader Earlier this week I came across a tweet that's got me thinking about leadership in ways that might just flip your playbook upside down. Consider this: You're the leader. Say, the Head-Coach, Manager or Sporting Director, and suddenly, the shit has hit the fan. You're faced with a crisis. What happens next? What's your go-to response? If you're like most leaders, you might be tempted to dive right in in and start issuing orders to sort things out. But hold on....
28 days ago • 5 min read
November 22, 2024 Hi Reader Apologies for no newsletter last week - I went and tried snorkling for the first time instead 🙈 Pretty cool day though. One thing stayed with me - in our induction prior to heading to sea the instructor spent more time sharing what not to do than on what to do. And it struck me that Leadership isn't just about what you do—it's equally about what you choose not to do. In the fast-paced world of sport and business, where every decision can ripple through a team, club...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
November 8, 2024 Hey Reader How has your week been so far? As I'm in Spain I've seen a lot of coverage of the flooding in the Valencia region. Shocking stuff and it really brought home to me the concept of 'creep' and how situations compound. That then brought to mind "The Butterfly Effect". Have you ever heard of it? It's the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas. Sounds far-fetched, right? But in leadership, this concept is more real than you...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
November 1, 2024 Hey Reader I'm living in Spain for a few months and it's taught me one thing. The value of listening. Hands up, my Spanish is pretty rudimentary and in need of improvement. But that's revealed a great value.....I'm having to listen a lot more that I talk and and I'm having to listen very carefully to pick up what's going on and to understand everyone around me. And then when I do say something it has to land well...and land correctly. I have to achieve more, saying less. And...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
October 25, 2024 Hey Reader Back at it again this week after my short holiday! It's supposed to be 'switch off' time but one thing that engaged me whilst I was doing some pool-side reading was the notion of the constant challenges we face. Have you ever found yourself staring at a seemingly insurmountable challenge, feeling as though you're banging your head against a brick wall? The thing is, you're not alone. In boardrooms, offices and changing rooms across the globe, leaders like you...
2 months ago • 4 min read
October 11, 2024 Hey Reader Think of a few aspirational leaders in sport. What attracts you to them? Like, makes you sit up and listen when they speak. I've been pondering this one for a while. And it seems to me that prominent among many reasons is their ability to allow their humility to shine through even as they stand decisive and confident. Even at times you don't agree with them. It's one quality that draws people in. And to be a leader you, firstly, need followers. A study published in...
3 months ago • 4 min read
October 4, 2024 Hey Reader A penny dropped with me a few years back. Leadership wisdom often comes wrapped in shiny packages, but when you tear away the flashy wrapping you might find yourself holding nothing more than a ball of air. This is the essence of leadership non-advice – those catchy phrases and seemingly profound nuggets that sound great in a boardroom or TV interviews but crumble when you try to apply them in the real world. Picture this: You're a fresh-faced footballer, eager to...
3 months ago • 4 min read