Coaching News

Elite athletes are beginning to speak more openly about mental health, but their coaches often remain silent. This blog challenges the stigma surrounding mental performance coaching in high-performance sport, particularly for those in leadership roles. Drawing on research and real-world insight, it explores how burnout in coaching is often caused by role overload, not just effort, and how shifting the culture of support can strengthen the entire system from within.

We often think of intelligence as a function of the mind. But modern science and ancient wisdom agree: the heart plays a central role in how we think, feel, and lead. This article explores how heart-brain coherence affects everything from emotional regulation to decision-making and even immune response. Drawing from personal stories, Ayurvedic practice, and the work of Gregg Braden and HeartMath, it offers a simple, science-backed practice to help you access clarity, intuition, and calm in everyday life and why that’s not just helpful, but essential, for modern leadership.

Feedback is rarely easy, but it’s always revealing. This piece breaks down why feedback often triggers our defenses, and how we can build the capacity to respond with curiosity instead of resistance. It offers a shift from judging feedback to learning from it, and from looking back to moving forward with feedforward. For leaders especially, the way you receive feedback shapes the culture around you.

When founders make themselves indispensable, they put their legacy at risk. This post explores the hidden cost of holding on too long and why true leadership means preparing others to lead. Letting go isn’t giving up; it’s what allows a legacy to endure.

Culture isn’t just important—it’s the air your team breathes. This post unpacks four core team cultures and how they shape results. It reveals why performance hinges not just on productivity but on positivity too. Because when culture fails, strategy never stood a chance.

Adversity will come—that’s inevitable. But how we meet it? That’s where our power lives. This piece explores what it means to respond instead of react, to face setbacks without losing our center. Drawing from lived experience, client stories, and the wisdom of Stoic and Buddhist thought, it offers practical tools and a quiet philosophy for building inner strength when it matters most.

This piece revisits my original reflections on Daniel Goleman’s leadership styles and expands them with five deeper, purpose-driven approaches. From servant leadership to mission-anchored development, it explores how today’s most effective leaders lead not just with flexibility—but with clarity, conviction, and presence.

Technical skills can land you the job, but emotional intelligence keeps you in the role. In family enterprise advising, many skilled professionals stumble—not from lack of expertise, but from inability to navigate complex family dynamics. Families don't just need answers; they need advisors who can hold space for deeper conversations about values, trust, legacy, and emotion. To become a true thought partner or "consigliere," advisors must practice empathy, curiosity, and humility, mastering the art of presence alongside their technical expertise.

We live in a culture fixated on scores, labels, and standardized tests—but intelligence is so much more. It's about how uniquely we think, create, and connect with the world around us. Drawing inspiration from Howard Gardner's powerful theory of Multiple Intelligences, this blog challenges traditional views, revealing how embracing diverse intelligences—from spatial awareness to emotional insight—can unlock hidden strengths, deepen our relationships, and fundamentally redefine what it means to be brilliant

Leadership maturity isn’t measured by experience or credentials, it’s revealed in how you respond under pressure. Do you lead from fear, from the need for approval, or from principle? This post explores the stages of moral development that shape how leaders show up, decide, and influence. If you’re ready to move beyond skill toward integrity-driven leadership, this is your roadmap.

Coaching, like walking, is a powerful yet often underestimated habit. This blog explores how regular coaching sessions can serve as a mental reset, helping you clear distractions, focus your energy, and build lasting emotional strength. Just as we walk to stay physically fit, we coach to stay mentally agile. You don't need a problem to start; just the intention to grow.

Emotions shape every decision in a family business, yet they’re rarely discussed—until it’s too late. Power struggles, hidden fears, and deep-seated rivalries don’t just cause tension; they can tear a legacy apart. Just look at the Redstone family’s brutal fight over ViacomCBS—was it really about control, or something deeper? When families ignore the emotions driving their choices, boardroom battles turn personal, and successions collapse. The question isn’t whether emotions exist—it’s whether you’re willing to face them before they sink the ship.

Great leaders don’t avoid conflict—they harness it. This article explores how productive friction fuels innovation, drawing lessons from NASA, the Wright brothers, and modern business leaders. Learn to distinguish between healthy task conflict and toxic relationship conflict, and discover strategies to cultivate a high-performing team. If your team isn’t debating, you might be losing your edge.

Goals shape our future, but not all goals lead to success. The difference lies in clarity, structure, and awareness of unintended consequences. Set the wrong goal, and you may stall before you start. Learn how small shifts in how you define your goals can lead to real progress without the hidden trade-offs.

Navigating change is never easy, especially when legacy and tradition are at stake. This article explores the transformation of a family business that embraced innovation without losing sight of its roots. Their story highlights universal lessons on adaptability, emotional resilience, and turning turbulence into opportunity.

When a family sells its business, the transition often challenges its sense of identity and purpose. Family offices serve as a bridge, helping families manage wealth while fostering emotional connection, unity, and generational relevance. This article explores how family offices navigate the complexities of governance, relationships, and evolving values to remain impactful across generations.

This blog explores the universal pressure on young people to achieve perfection in academics and careers, driven by cultural and societal expectations across continents. Highlighting the profound costs of avoiding failure, it emphasizes the necessity of safe spaces for setbacks as a means to foster resilience and growth. Through global examples and actionable steps, it invites readers to rethink how we view failure and recognize it as a powerful tool for learning and thriving.

This blog explores the transformation of a high-achieving individual contributor into a trust-building leader. Through the story of Jared, a driven executive learner, we uncover how leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the conditions for others to thrive. From silos to psychological safety, from delegation to shared ownership, this blog outlines the mindset shift that drives high-performing teams and offers practical takeaways for leaders ready to let go—and lead forward.

Why do so many young people struggle with resilience, confidence, and perseverance? During a walk along the stunning coast of Punta del Este, a friend shared his frustrations working with today’s youth, who often give up too quickly when faced with challenges. This reflection explores the roots of the problem—and what it means for all of us as parents, leaders, and a society.

This blog examines how mindset influences our leadership, relationships, and responses to challenges. It moves beyond the fixed vs. growth binary to show how our mindset shifts depending on the situation, and what those shifts reveal. Emotion and environment influence belief, and even a fixed mindset can offer strength when grounded in values. This isn’t about choosing a mindset. It’s about noticing the one you’re in—and growing from there.

Confidence isn’t just a trait; it’s a skill that shapes how we navigate challenges, transform failures into opportunities, and strive for success. Drawing insights from athletes who push their physical limits and executives who thrive in high-stakes environments, this article explores the building blocks of self-confidence, from preparation and resilience to mentorship and growth. Through personal reflections and practical examples, discover how confidence can be cultivated as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between intention and achievement.

Procrastination isn’t about laziness—it’s fear wearing a mask, and we’ve all been there: staring at a looming task while finding every excuse to avoid it. This article dives into the emotional roots of procrastination, showing how it affects even the most capable leaders. The key to breaking free? Start small. A single sentence, a five-minute timer, or one manageable step can shatter the inertia and build momentum. Procrastination thrives on perfectionism and fear, but progress begins the moment you take action, however imperfect. So, what’s one thing you’ve been avoiding? Start now—because the first step changes everything.

Your beliefs aren't merely passive thoughts—they actively shape your experiences and achievements through the power of self-fulfilling prophecy. This article explores the science behind self-belief power, illustrating how what you think profoundly impacts your confidence, resilience, and ability to succeed. By rewriting the stories you tell yourself, you can break through limitations, embrace new opportunities, and create a reality aligned with your highest potential.

Our mental models and perspectives are like the roadmaps that help us to navigate the world. They help us to make sense of our surroundings and experiences. But what happens when those maps are outdated or incomplete without us realizing this? Imagine using that inadequate map when hiking a vast forest. The path behind you is worn and familiar, while ahead lies an expanse of uncharted territory. In this article, we will share the story of Alex, a high-potential executive escaping the limits of his mental models and perspectives. His professional journey was filled with uncertainty yet illuminated by the promise of discovery and transformation. Maybe his story will resonate with some of your own experiences.

Our mental models and perspectives are like the roadmaps that help us to navigate the world. They help us to make sense of our surroundings and experiences. But what happens when those maps are outdated or incomplete without us realizing this? Imagine using that inadequate map when hiking a vast forest. The path behind you is worn and familiar, while ahead lies an expanse of uncharted territory. In this article, we share Sofia's story, a young woman escaping the limits of her mental models and perspectives. Her journey was filled with uncertainty yet illuminated by the promise of discovery and transformation. Maybe her story will resonate with some of your own experiences.

Our mental models and perspectives are like the roadmaps that help us to navigate the world. They help us to make sense of our surroundings and experiences. But what happens when those maps are outdated or incomplete without us realizing this? Imagine using that inadequate map when hiking a vast forest. The path behind you is worn and familiar, while ahead lies an expanse of uncharted territory. In the forthcoming articles, we will share stories of individuals escaping the limits of their mental models and perspectives. The journey of each of these individuals was filled with uncertainty yet illuminated by the promise of discovery and transformation. Maybe their stories will resonate with some of your own experiences.

We firmly believe that psychological safety is essential for creating sustained high performance in a work and sports environment. In previous articles, we discussed the psychological safety in the workplace. In this article, we will tackle aspects of psychological safety in the world of sports.

In our last four blog posts, we have covered the importance and implications (the "why" and "what") of psychological safety in the workplace. This article will now shift its focus towards exploring methods (the "how") to establish a psychologically safe environment at work.

Ever found yourself in a work environment where you hesitated to ask a question or suggest an idea? Such instances are frequent in various workplace structures where people prefer to bite their tongues rather than raise concerns. Often, staff members restrain themselves from speaking out despite feeling that their input could be valuable for the future of the organization or even life-saving. This situation goes beyond hesitation; it mirrors an organizational culture lacking psychological safety support.

In a recent panel discussion on workplace productivity, a vigorous debate emerged regarding the impact of psychological safety versus pressure in achieving high productivity. This article aims to clarify several misconceptions, one being that psychological safety and pressure cannot walk hand in hand and would not be conducive to optimizing productivity.

This article looks at the influence of fear on psychological safety in the workplace. The focus is on examining how fear has been used historically and as a motivator while shedding light on its impact on employee morale, innovation, and overall well-being. The article explores how fear hinders learning and problem-solving abilities. It also provides indicators to recognize environments dominated by fear. To illustrate the effects of a culture rooted in fear, a case study from a medical device company is presented, highlighting its impact on teamwork and overall success. Ultimately, the article underscores the significance of safety in cultivating a productive workplace environment.

In a recent discussion in The Hague, a financial executive and I explored leadership and emotional intelligence. While he viewed emotional intelligence as secondary to pragmatic efficiency, we agreed on the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. Psychological safety is crucial, acting not as a driving force but as a necessary condition for progress. It is vital for unlocking potential and performance. In our upcoming blog series, we explore the concept of psychological safety.

In the fast-paced world of business, where competition is fierce and change is a constant, relying solely on traditional skills and academic knowledge may not be enough to distinguish oneself as a true leader. Based on my work, with than 200 Executive MBA students at the Booth School of Business, I have come to understand that genuine leadership goes beyond these conventional measures. It involves tapping into what I refer to as an individual's "Superpowers" – those talents and unique abilities that lie at the heart of their wisdom.

In the dynamic world of organizational development, team coaching has emerged as a rising star for building high-performing teams. Just like a skilled pilot navigating through turbulent weather using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), a team coach relies on a diverse toolkit and sharp awareness to guide a team through complex group dynamics. By keenly observing, analyzing, and intervening when necessary, the team coach plays a vital role in helping the team grow, fearlessly confronting group challenges and unlocking the team’s collective potential.

The advantage of team coaching is that teams learn how to manage conflicts that naturally arise within teams effectively. It focuses on understanding group dynamics and fostering interactions among team members. A team coach guides the team towards appreciating perspectives and collaboratively finding solutions by creating a safe environment. Ultimately, this contributes to establishing a more productive and positive work atmosphere.

Pressure is a transformative force in sports, acknowledged by athletes for its profound impact on performance during critical competition moments. Recognizing and managing this pressure is imperative, as neglecting it intensifies its effects and hinders peak performance. This blog seeks to explore the nature of pressure, its origins, and strategies for athletes to optimize their performance under its influence, aiming for success and excellence.

In a world without clear instructions for how to face hardship, we often turn to stories that reflect something true. Nightbirde’s unforgettable performance on America’s Got Talent in 2021 did exactly that. Battling cancer, she sang a song called It’s OK and left the world with a message that still resonates: You don’t have to wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. This post explores the meaning behind her words and how they speak to the heart of coaching. It is about agency, emotional permission, and the quiet strength of choosing who we want to be when life is anything but easy. True happiness is not about escaping difficulty. It is about how we relate to it, and the decisions we make in the middle of it all.

Mistakes are not the opposite of success, they're essential to it. In this post, I explore how embracing failure can drive growth, sharpen performance, and build resilience. Whether in sports, leadership, or life, learning to work with mistakes instead of fearing them is a mindset shift that changes everything.

Athletes often receive a lot of attention for their abilities after thrilling events such as the US Open. However, there is more to their success than meets the eye. Take Novak Djokovic, for example. Apart from his skills, Djokovic’s ability to effortlessly transition between intense focus and relaxation is truly captivating. It provides us with a glimpse into the world of endurance and resilience. In this article, we will explore the concept of "switching.” The seamless shifting between heightened concentration and a relaxed state. And how crucial it is in maintaining peak performance. We'll delve into strategies that athletes use, including mindfulness and visualization, to effectively train their minds to stay at the top of their game.

In a world that rewards nonstop action, the ability to step back has become a hidden advantage. This blog unpacks the discipline of switching off, not as a sign of weakness, but as a foundation for long-term performance. Drawing from personal experience, leadership insights, and examples from figures like Arianna Huffington and Richard Branson, it explores how rest, recovery, and presence are key to showing up fully when it matters most.

Every family possesses its stories – stories of affection, disagreements, aspirations fulfilled, and aspirations shattered. However, what transpires when the burden of an inheritance jeopardizes the foundation that keeps a family united? This genuine account is not about wealth, conflicting entrepreneurial perspectives, or passionate arguments. It is about finding mutual ground and acknowledging that the true richness of a family lies in the connections and the cherished moments they share.

Family-owned companies play an important role in most economies. As new generations become more involved in the growing family business, frequently, a shift occurs from a family focused on running a single business to a family with a broader business orientation. This natural evolution inevitably causes changes in the dynamics and the complex interplay of emotions between a family and its business. This article explores the transition from being a "family business" to becoming a "business family."

We are currently witnessing a transformation in how teamwork operates. Gone are the days when team meetings were confined to a conference room and lasted for an hour. Traditional office meeting rooms have been replaced by interconnected Wi-Fi networks. In the world of software development, a new type of meeting has created a substantial impact. Known as stand-up meetings or scrum meetings.

Due to unresolved family conflicts, three sisters who owned a company sent their husbands to represent them at board meetings. This turned the meetings into personal battlegrounds, impacting the company's decision-making and causing internal divisions. The situation underscores the need for clear communication, role definition, and separation of personal issues from business in family-run enterprises.

In the realm of sports, there is a growing recognition of the significance of well-being and preparedness. However, despite this increasing awareness, many athletes hesitate to discuss their collaboration with mental performance coaches. A belief exists that seeking guidance from coaches may be perceived as a display of weakness or vulnerability. That couldn't be further from reality!

The world of high-performance sports is full of stories of unwavering determination, disciplined routines, and awe-inspiring athleticism. It's a domain where every fiber of one's being, every ounce of sweat, and every hour of practice comes together to create moments of triumph However, those involved in this arena often ponder, "Is training the foundation for exceptional performance?"

Responding to an article I posted on leadership, a former University of Chicago colleague posed a potent question: Is traditional leadership outdated, and should it be superseded by a method reflecting recent societal shifts, like stewardship? This article aims to shed light on the roles of social stewardship and servant leadership in modern leadership and differentiate between leadership traits and style.

Conflict is an inescapable reality in any situation involving human interaction. However, not all conflicts should be inherently negative. While it may trigger stress or anxiety, it can stimulate new ideas, growth, and better team dynamics.