Leader Manager Coach Podcast

In this week's show, Rob talks to legendary player and manager, Lou Macari.Lou's extensive career has taken him through stints at Celtic, where he was part of the now mythical Quality Street Gang, which included the likes of Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain. He went on to play over 400 games for Manchester United, helping them win promotion back to the First Division, as well as the FA Cup in 1977.From there, Macari went on to an illustrious managerial career, before founding The Macari Centre, a street retreat used to house the homeless sleeping rough in Stoke-On-Trent.Lou joins Rob to talk about his inspirational life, his experiences, and his outlook on the game itself, both past and present, as well as his life now.KEY TAKEAWAYSLou puts his success down to the talent of the managers he's worked with. Strong leadership and the correct advice at the correct time helped Lou to find his identity as a player, and to achieve his best at all times. The managers of Macari's youth stood for no nonsense. Discipline

As a prelude to the upcoming interview of Rob with the football legend Lou Macari. Rob shares in this episode of the Leader Manager Coach Podcast how it went down when he talked to Lou about his playing career, some personal stories, and the current situation of the football sport. We live in a fast-paced hyperconnected world, the number of people who are interested in football and all other sports is declining. Learn what Lou has to say about this today.Rob was also lucky to have been toured by Lou in The Macari Centre, a shelter for the homeless opened by Lou himself. Discover why Rob absolutely admires Lou's down-to-earthiness and devotion for helping other people after witnessing him very involved in the centre.Start listening in to know more about this ‘one for the books' experience of Rob with Lou Macari!KEY TAKEAWAYSMaybe only a few know about Lou Macari's shelter for the homeless, The Macari Centre. This advocacy of his didn't stop when he finished building the centre. He continued serving the h

 ‘Everybody needs a hero, someone to look up to, as a child I watched a figure in a red shirt orchestrate a phenomenal victory in an FA cup final' Who do you influence and are you influencing them in the right way?Rob explores how as leaders, managers and coaches we influence others. He discusses some of the most significant influencers in sport and how they have created teams with resilience and the drive to be the best they can be, listen in to hear more. KEY TAKEAWAYSIf you are a coach, leader or manager then you are an influencer. It's often our shortcomings that make us take a step back and review how we influence others and facilitate their progress or hold them back.Being an influencer is not always about being verbal being present and having a supportive aura is often what is needed. The calmness and ability to soothe a situation as a supporter can be the most important resource.There is so much more to people than we actually think and know. It is only time that provides the opportuni

Life is evolutionary and we don't stand still every hour is a new opportunity to change our habits and make incremental steps towards a positive outcome.Rob offers advice and practical steps you can take to develop and implement the habits that lead to positive outcomes and success.Listen in now and get started on creating successful habits. KEY TAKEAWAYSThink small, really, really smallSuccess is achieved through small incremental steps. What can you do today that is one small step towards achieving your ultimate goal?Create a physical reminderHave something with you that is a physical reminder of what you want to achieve and why you need to do the things you are doing.Lay out your suppliesThis is particularly useful and pertinent to sports.Laying out the supplies for activities and tasks in advance ensures that you are ready to undertake the activity or task at the required time.Piggybacking habitsWhat do you do that is already an ingrained habit and how can you extend and embrace a new habit as part o

In this episode, Rob discusses the concept of balance and how it relates to us and others. When your role is as a Leader, Manager or Coach achieving balance for you and those you are working with is vital for success.Rob identifies what imbalance looks like and provides great advice on how you can make changes and achieve balance across all areas of your life. KEY TAKEAWAYSThe concept of balance is a really important one.You can find you are out of balance if you are working extremely hard at a task and as a result, you feel jaded and are not as effective as you want to be.If you step back from the task you are able to come back and tackle the task with more consistency and focus because you have been able to redress the balance.When you put increasing effort into achieving specific goals it can be detrimental to other areas in your life.As a professional, you need to have a balance between having good communication and people skills along with being great at what you do.It is possible to joint venture a

In this very special edition of Leader Manager Coach, Rob travels to the heart of the professional environment to talk to Wigan Athletic's Under-23 coach, Nick Chadwick, a former professional player who played in every English division.Nick talks about his role at the club, how his past experiences have shaped him, and how he uses the wisdom of former mentors to shape future generations of players.KEY TAKEAWAYSNick came through the Everton academy and made it to the first team almost immediately, working under managers such as Walter Smith and David Moyes. From here he passed through numerous teams building experience under the guidance of teams such as Plymouth Argyle, Hereford and Shrewsbury in several different divisions.Nick was fortunate in his career. The managers he has worked for have all been complete professionals, and have instilled high standards in him, from Walter Smith's gentlemanly conduct to David Moyes' stern approach which instilled deep respect and an eagerness to please.Clearly definite r

We're often told that there's no “I” in “Team”, but sometimes it can be beneficial to break down a team's strengths into its individual parts. Sometimes a single person's ability is needed to lift a team that little bit higher.When it comes to training, it's not always wise to assume that each player needs the same motivation, the same physical stimulation. Everyone is different, and by focussing on that, a good manager will be able to get the best out of his entire team.Listen as Rob relates his own experiences in this regard, and discusses how the most successful teams have managed to get the best out of the whole, by focussing in on the needs of the individual. Along with this, Rob also shares some of the secrets that can help you get the best out of not just the player, but also yourself. KEY TAKEAWAYSCoaches and their staff are as interested in the capabilities and gifts of individual players, as they are in the capabilities and gifts of an entire team. It would be foolish to

In this episode, Rob takes a tactical dive into the world of coaching, looking at the wealth of information already shared by the many talented coaches out there, plus the invaluable insight of their support staff, as well as the legacy of coaches from the past.Football is evolving at an ever-increasing rate, and some of the philosophies surrounding it have grown alongside. This can also be seen as a reflection of life itself. But how can the lessons of coaching influence our everyday lives? And how have great teams from the past utilised effective coaching to lead themselves to victory? KEY TAKEAWAYSPositional play is key. This is a concept often attributed by modern fans to Pep Guardiola and the success of teams like Manchester City.The positional play strategy stems from the “Grandfathers of Positional Play” – including luminaries such as Juan Manuel Lillo.Positional p[lay has its foundations in the principles of “invasion games” and has stood the test of time, having sha

‘All Blacks coach Steve Hanson has not conducted a single pre-match team talk in the 7 years he has been in charge at the All Blacks' Steve Hanson's philosophy is that he leaves it to his playing staff to make the decisions for themselves and their passion excitement and phenomenal commitment is evident whenever they play. In this episode, Rob explores the team talk and its role in motivating and inspiring. Listen in now to hear about the different ways team talks are used in driving successful footballers forward.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Steve, the backroom staff and the players believe that they don't need to be motivated by someone else as they are totally self-motivated. Why would people who have sacrificed so much and worked so hard to reach sporting excellence need motivating? It's up to the staff to create the right environment so the players are in peak physical and mental condition. This enables the players to be in the right frame of mind to make

Don't let mistakes – small or big – bring you down. They're just but a speck on your wonderful life!Today on the latest episode of the Leader Manager Coach Podcast, Rob discusses how important is resilience as a characteristic for a yet-to-be successful person. Obstacles, just like opportunities, unexpectedly come. So, once you're about to face them, you should be able to get through them. Sometimes, we let these moments in the downhill get the best of us. We should learn to be resilient – to quickly get back up with the chin up! According to Rob, there are only 4 key aspects you should take note of to be resilient. Learn today what they are and how it could help you when you tune in!KEY TAKEAWAYSResilience is the ability of humans to bounce back easily.Human beings are biologically designed to avoid pain and comfort and ease.For one to be ultimately successful – world-class skill set, an expert, a billionaire, etc., you have to have a nurturing environment.According to Brian Johnson,

In this episode Rob reflects on key principles and the importance of ensuring their use across all elements of leading, managing and coaching.He explores the tool kit of techniques and knowledge that everyone should be using to support the development of those they train and support, listen in to hear more. KEY TAKEAWAYSThe importance of sleepResearch has been put forward suggesting that by increasing the number of sleep hours to 10 in a day, some elite swimmers increased their level of performance significantly.If we are leading managing and coaching high performers then rest recovery and sleep are key components that we should be promoting. This is especially important for adolescents when the demands of their physiological state are particularly high due to the growth cycle.Research has demonstrated that successful people in the world worked extremely hard in deeply focused blocks of 6 to 8 hours maximumYou don't always know what the full story isPerformance and behaviours can often deteriorate if a p

How can you help players progress and Perform? In this episode, Rob interviews Dan Abrahams an established sports psychologist with a specialisation in soccer. Dan and Rob explore aspects of sports psychology and how understanding the crucial role it plays in sport is vital for the success of individuals and teams.   This absorbing podcast is an insight into the complex psychology of footballers and is an invaluable listen for any football coach.   KEY TAKEAWAYS How did you get into your current profession? I was a professional golfer and also undertook some coaching. As a player, I loved the psychological side.  I began to use analysis when coaching and I fell in love more and more with the psychology of it. When you are coaching you meet a huge cross-section of society and are able to work with vastly different individuals - the housewife, the lawyer, the eight-year-old.  I went on to gain a degree in psychology a

This podcast reflects on two significant individuals whose lives have embodied the role of a leader in a manner that is insightful for us all.The comments made by those who worked with them have been profound and Rob reflects on the huge significance of these leaders amongst men.KEY TAKEAWAYSEric HarrisonI only really became aware of him after the class of 92 had been instrumental in the success of Manchester United.He was mentioned as the coach involved with the up and coming youth players but when you see the power of the words written by people about Eric you realise he was something profoundly special.Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he was one of the greatest coaches of our time.‘He was able to make good human beings out of young players'It is significant that he talks about how to make good human beings. Eric is credited with building character and determination and being a teacher who offered choices and lit the path through his own hard work and sacrifice.In the many comments made, there are no

In this episode, Rob shares his experiences and knowledge of how we can help others get from ‘there to there.'He explains how our journey to self-realisation is key in the process of reaching our goals and how we need to take small steps living the moment to achieve what we ultimately want.KEY TAKEAWAYSIt's helpful to view many things on a continuum.At one end of the continuum, there are people who are diagnosed as not well psychologically and at the other end is the individual who is functioning at a very high-level, someone who is performing extremely well and at the top of their game.Aiming to get the player to a different level, can be an impossible task because of the time frame.You can't get there from there – the gap from where you are currently to where you want to be is too big.If you are an achiever, a goal setter its highly likely you've set goals in pursuit of your dreams but then life comes along and you haven't hit the targets, this can create a negative state of mind.It's ok to set

In this episode, Rob explores how the accepted working relationship between coach and athlete is defined in differing countries.This very honest reflection on the role of the coach in the UK will resonant with anyone who is involved in sport in the UK currently.KEY TAKEAWAYSHow potentially compromising and challenging is the role of a coach?  The role of the coach is a 2-part relationship, that of leader and follower and coaching often involves working with children.In the UK we are well versed in child protection and the vulnerability of children. There are many documents available that are designed to develop understanding along with legislation and guidance to support prevention.In other countries, there are coaches who spend hours each week with miners either one to one or in very small groups. Their current acceptable practice also includes the administering ‘hands-on treatment' for minor injuries such as muscle tightness.This high lights not only the differences but raises the question of whe

In this episode, we hear about the motivating journey Rob has taken and how his experiences positive and negative have shaped his career. This episode has lots to offer if you are beginning your career or already on your way because ultimately the journey is what it's all about.KEY TAKEAWAYSFootball and sport were the fundamental building blocks of my life. My ambition was to be a professional but one of the certainties in life is that we have to deal with disappointment and following the setback of not being able to go further, a change in direction led me to train as a physiotherapist.The PlateauHaving qualified I spent some time on the plateau. I worked in the evenings with youth players and their parents. This is the time I when I did the hours to learn and master my trade. Ask anyone successful and they will tell you, you have to complete the grind.Always be a StudentAsking questions to deepen your understanding will bring new opportunities to be explored.I've always wanted to know about ‘why' and

Rob talks about the art of defending, what defending is and discusses the traits of the most famous defenders in football history. Hop in to learn about this and much more.KEY TAKEAWAYSWho is a defender? It is someone who wards off an attack it's someone who prohibits it's someone who is a guardian of and a protector of. This should facilitate feelings of pride and facilitate feelings of passion in you.Having a strong deep belief in keeping clean sheets and defending well as a basis for a great team and performances and results is something that you will find is borne out by the statistics.All attack and no defence is a poor show. For you to succeed in life you should always defend that thing which you have by all means and with this, you will be successful in everything that you do.The creative side of the game that floats people's boats, it is the attacking side, the flat side or the beautiful side of the game, as some people would call it that actually is what attracts people to the game.Anything in excess

Perseverance and determination really go a long way.In this episode of Leader Manager Coach Podcast, Rob talks to Josh Gordon from Walsall Football Club to prove that there are things you need more to achieve success, not just your talent.Josh shares his personal stories and everything about his football career. He has been playing at an early age and has been continuing to improve himself in order to be one of the best professional football players out there. Of course, like anybody else, his career wasn't always filled with rainbows and unicorns. He's had setbacks, which have been part of his life and have helped him grow stronger. Discover from today's discussion about how he deals with such challenges and prepares for great opportunities.KEY TAKEAWAYSJosh says starting training early has become fruitful for his football career. Josh has been playing football since he was really young even though his dad could get him inclined into basketball. When Josh was six, he started playing for Stoke City until he w

Making the JourneyIn this episode, Rob takes us through what inspires a journey and how the challenges shape the ultimate success. It is also revealed that we will soon be able to listen to an interview with a young footballer who is realising his dreams as a footballer following a journey that has involved overcoming considerable challenges. KEY TAKEAWAYS Levels of success take work and effort, if you are doing something you love you will want to get better. We all need to find the thing that we are passionate about. The thing that when we engage with it we get that ‘I was born to do this' feeling. In order to get great at something, we have to do great work. It requires that we focus and practise in that zone where we are stretching ourselves. We all start with a vision, hope or dream and we believe. We don't know what we will face on the journey towards our dream but it's how we deal with that adversity and how we face those challenges. The challenges are there to h

“The Olympic Games are not held every four years it's held every day” In today's episode of the Leader, Manager, Coach podcast, Rob discusses the unsung heroes of the Olympics and goes on to share with you the motivation to achieve your dreams, become obsessed with your happiness and how to remove the resistance from your life. Finally, Rob shares with you how to continue to grow and develop on your own journey. Tune in today to hear this and much more.KEY TAKEAWAYSOlympic Games are not held every four years it's held every day. It's not about the big game, it's not about the FA Cup final, it's not about the TV interview and it's not about the big stage and the bright lights, it's actually about the grind, it's about what you do every day, it's about the decisions you make second by second, it's about the hand on the shoulder, it's about body language and it's about the 10 o'clock at night doing your preparation for the next day.Obsession. You should always watch out and consider whether your obse