EPISODE 8 – Everyone Needs a Coach

By Michael Langhout

August 5, 2019

Executive Summary

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.

Episode Highlights

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)