Leader Manager Coach Podcast

Rob shares his insights and discoveries for this week in the hope that you will share, absorb, learn, understand or be inspired by at least one of the lessons in your leadership position. After listening to an interview with Gary Neville, former Manchester United Player of 600 games, England International player and now a respected TV football presenter, Rob has picked out some points that he has taken from this unusually outspoken discussion.KEY TAKEAWAYSNeville’s work ethic was very evident. Phrases such as ‘leave nothing on the pitch’ and ‘the only thing in life we have to offer is hard work’ were scattered throughout the interview. We need to have a place of safety in order to grow successfully and regroup. Neville had this as part of his team. His support structure was rigid, family-based and unquestionable. Rob is reading The Gulag Archipelago: An Experiment in Literary Investigation,  a three-volume non-fiction text written between 1958 and 1968 by Russian writer and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzheni

Rob speaks with Sally Needham, a Development and Performance Culture Lead at Sheffield United Football Club.Sally spent 13 years at The FA within the skills programme and then as a county coach developer and holds the UEFA A Licence and the Advanced Youth Award (5-11). Sally is a Thrive Practitioner, where she has taken the latest in neuroscience, child development and attachment theory and applied it into football. Along with being a Coach Developer for The FA and Consultant at 4Growth, she is currently at UCLAN doing a Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance.    Sally and Rob discuss her journey to being a child development specialist working in football, her position in Sheffield United, how modern psychological science is applied practically in coaching and techniques that are used with young people to nurture them as balanced human beings as well as footballers.   KEY TAKEAWAYSThrough a job at Barnsley College helping with coaching and a healthy interest in football, Sally took a Sport and Exercise S

We do not have 100% control over what happens in our lives. This is realised as we grow and must be distinctly understood or nothing progressive can come of your leadership role. You will NOT get everything you want, when you want it. Rob explains change as the only constant and how it always applies to us whoever we are. KEY TAKEAWAYSWe are always affected by the environment and circumstances that we are in. Our identity changes depending on who we are facing and where. We have a self image. In our minds we have an idea of who we are. It is that which  dictates what we manifest outward. It is ok to have different aspects to our ideas and personalities. We need to understand this to be better people. Sometimes you are the leader, and command and presence is required, and sometimes the student, where humility and attention is required. Adaptability is the longevity factor. If you cannot cope with change, you simply cannot cope. BEST MOMENTS‘If you have a clear, clean, tidy, structured, rational, decisive thoug

After attending a conference Rob is here to share what he has discovered there with you. From the role of football organisation in the development of young people to the correct form and presentation of wisdom to your students, Rob shares every thought provoked during his time at the conference. KEY TAKEAWAYSThe A.I.R. Philosophy, (Adaptability, Independence, Resilience), is used to underpin the importance of creating good members of society while training young people for the world of football.  The style of leadership in young people’s football is important, as aggressive styles usually end up being tuned out or even fully abandoned using these ways of communication. Concentration and  confidence are reduced by these forms of leadership.We need to, as leaders and coaches, create the correct challenges and structure to facilitate growth and development. Don’t look sideways. Don’t look at other people and what they present and compare it to yourself. Do not let the world choose for you if you don’t have to. B

The ninth of a ten part series based on a book by Phil Denton and Micky Mellon, ‘The First 100 Days ; Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.’ They will donate all proceeds to the Len Johnrose Trust which will help in the fight against motor neurone disease and that’s a good enough reason to buy this book. It is, however, a brilliant book jam packed with wisdom on the art of management and Rob is going to introduce you to it over the next ten episodes. KEY TAKEAWAYSEpisode 9 of The First 100 Days is about looking after yourself as the Manager.  There is nothing so difficult, unnatural and uncomfortable than trying to be something that you are not. Act on and use your strengths and vulnerabilities and create your team to support those. Keep your life in balance. Do not destroy yourself by achieving your goals. Make sure you have recovery time and do not sacrifice your relationships.B.E.S.T. Breathe, Eat, Sleep, Train. Pay attention and keep yourself healthy.Delegate to others. You cannot control and mi

Rob takes inspiration from a number of sources this episode including Jordan Peterson to demonstrate the importance of finding balance in your life and sometimes needing to take a step backwards to do so. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhen you are helping somebody you need to push them enough so that they get the best out of their ability, but you cannot go too far. Knowing the right balance is a skill.We are all on the spectrum between creativity and structure. The trick is recognising where we are and how we can find people who can bring the skill set that you don’t have. Be organised. Be disciplined but allow yourself the freedom to be creative within that structure. BEST MOMENTS‘The human body works on balance, just as the first example. Blood sugars. You have a figure that is right for your blood sugar.’‘You can develop the things that you’re not great at a little bit. And you can recognise ‘I’m so creative, but I need to be more disciplined.’ ‘If you’re just this genius of a maverick, you’re probably going to fail.’   V

If you are looking for knowledge and wisdom in the leadership and coaching arena, Rob is here to share his insights from various sources that he has gathered for this episode. From discipline to resilience, Rob is here to provide you with another dose of uplifting and determined inspiration. KEY TAKEAWAYSWe have to stop looking for the bright lights of the ‘life is wonderful’ days and measure our lives with realism in mind. Not everyday can be Christmas Day. Ryan Holiday, an author on the stoic philosophy ; ‘Life is one damned thing after another’. You have to have skill and qualifications to get those top jobs but more important is your attitude and your ability to deal with people. Have discipline within your life. Eat, sleep and move. Get the fundamentals right.Suffering is motivation. Creation is driven by overcoming problems. Challenge is inspiration. Fear leads to courage. BEST MOMENTS ‘You get up in the morning, your car won’t start. You forgot to go to the shop, you haven’t got anything in for your lu

Rob recounts his trip camping out and rambling across The Great Glen in The Highlands of Scotland and how reconnecting with nature and it’s magnificence helped him, and can help you, gain perspective, resilience and appreciation upon return to our busy modern existence.   KEY TAKEAWAYSOn a uncharacteristic walk with his son, Rob became interested in and has taken up walking and rambling as a pastime. Often in our western lifestyles we feel overwhelmed with too much to do and too much information input. Getting out into nature can be the perfect foil for this common occurrence in all of us. There is evidence that being amongst nature and away from our man made, clinical environments can have a positive affect on our physicalities. The loss of convenient comforts are removed from you so you have to take action to provide warmth and food for yourself, slowing you down and increasing your appreciation of the things you take for granted.The existence of ancient landscapes and eternal onward natural environments in

The eighth of a ten part series based on a book by Phil Denton and Micky Mellon, ‘The First 100 Days ; Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.’ They will donate all proceeds to the Len Johnrose Trust which will help in the fight against motor neurone disease and that’s a good enough reason to buy this book. It is, however, a brilliant book jam packed with wisdom on the art of management and Rob is going to introduce you to it over the next ten episodes.  KEY TAKEAWAYSThis episode and book chapter are discussing communication, culture and leadership.Your communication as the leader sets the tone for the organisation. Keep information and instruction concise and clear. Use tone, body language and precise language to make clear to all who are listening your intention.Make sure you have a strong element of self care to ensure as the key figure you are on top physical and mental form to service your position. This includes your inner dialogue and your mindset, your team talk to yourself, and how you achiev

In this episode Rob takes you on a meandering journey to share numerous things with you that he hopes will have a significant impact on your state of mind, your success, your journey and your life. With great points from the Stoic Philosophy from people like Ryan Holiday about inner reflection, being on the right path, reward systems, teamwork and letting go, Rob gives you good reason to pause and reflect. KEY TAKEAWAYS You can forge your character only with isolation. You have to be alone with your own thoughts and be free from distractions to reflect inwardly.Better to starve in a calm and graceful state of mind than to live anxiously amidst abundance. Sometimes the amount of decisions we have to make can be overwhelming. Knowing oneself is to keep these times in perspective. Let your value system decide for you.A team, although on separate journeys, can pull together to achieve results. You as a being have a system of physiology that awards you for bravery, success and achievement.  Understand that people

‘Life is suffering.’ Rob discusses the philosophy that our lives are full of struggle and how this concept can be applied for a fulfilled and successful life without procrastination and fear. KEY TAKEAWAYS Life ends associated with sorrow. It does no good to deny sadness and pretend it doesn’t exist.Decisions are delayed by the fear of consequences and the unhappiness they may bring, but if you accept suffering as an inevitability that nervous delay can be circumvented.Procrastination is caused by avoidance of suffering. No one can choose a path that is suffering free. BEST MOMENTS ‘If it is true that ‘life is suffering’, how may people would actually consciously sign up for that? Probably nobody, so maybe we shouldn’t take it so literally.’‘When we look to make decisions we are often in angst, we are often in significant decision making anxiety because we are thinking if I go left here, this’ll happen, that’ll happen.’ ‘We have to pick up our cross and carry it. Just pick it up, get on with it and carry it a

There are many examples of the application of principles leading to a successful outcome. It is easy to become insecure in situations and anxiety can lead you to question if you are doing the right thing. When setting up our own ‘Empire’, Rob has some key points and principles to impart. KEY TAKEAWAYSBoris Johnson has resigned finally after months of turmoil. For Rob, the thing that stood out was the seemingly plain evidence and allegations about the PM’s untruths and his administration's lack of integrity.Truth is integral to the running of an organisation and Boris Johnson’s government is an example of why. Inside your own mind is where you need to be a ruler. If you do that everything in your life will work out as well as possible.Acting justly when you could skip over and take the easy route, grab the money and being a wise, good person is your biggest strength. BEST MOMENTS‘For the word empire you can substitute family, you can substitute business, you can substitute club or organisation.’‘I have no inte

The seventh of a ten part series based on a book by Phil Denton and Micky Mellon, ‘The First 100 Days ; Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.’ They will donate all proceeds to the Len Johnrose Trust which will help in the fight against motor neurone disease and that’s a good enough reason to buy this book. It is, however, a brilliant book jam packed with wisdom on the art of management and Rob is going to introduce you to it over the next ten episodes.  KEY TAKEAWAYSThe football stadium is like a courtroom and you are the central figure standing in the dock. The team is your supporting evidence for your case.You may be the leader but you are part of a team and that is key to keep in mind. Without trust there is a fear of conflict. This will block communication and commitment.The process of learning that becomes part of the culture is discussed by Phil and Micky as meta-cognition, which means understanding the process of thinking, learning and development. BEST MOMENTS‘If they’re playing well, giving

Rob talks in this episode about some fundamentals in long term success and contentment in life. The intangibles are unnoticed or unspoken essentials of behaviour that can provide the base for success.  KEY TAKEAWAYSThere are certain things that you have to do to become successful. Intangibles like turning up on time or keeping your word.Without consistent intangibles your life will start to unravel. Good habits, small kindnesses, passing practicalities, efficient organisation are all examples. You get no praise or reward for these qualities, yet without them you will begin to impact others and there will be consequences.  BEST MOMENTS‘What’s the difference between an elite professional footballer and a young player who just plays for fun? It could be narrowed down to less than half a dozen things.’ ‘Wow. Are you going to put that on your CV? Are you going to put that in lights? No. What happens if you don’t turn up on time?’‘You put yourself in alignment with the law of habits. You do your basics, you do them

Rob talks to you over a relaxed cup of coffee on a Sunday morning about some things he’s been thinking about this week. He’s collated the best lessons he’s learnt to share with you from all his interests, books, podcasts and work. Put the kettle on and enjoy. KEY TAKEAWAYS Social media is awash with stories of success and the mantra of  “you can achieve” but there is a danger that this will give the impression that everybody else is more successful than you. Social media is not reality.Your success comes from hard work and determination. This message is often skirted or not clearly stated.Success comes with a cost. A perceived “overnight success” when looked at more carefully is actually the result of years of obsessive hard work.Being a human being is so much more than aiming for utopia. The human mind tends to create problems to overcome. BEST MOMENTS‘How do human beings, how do we all as individuals make our way in the world and go on and try to achieve what is inside us, the divine spark that’s within us

Rob's guest today is Jack Russell, retired cricketer, cricket coach, goalkeeping coach and artist.  Jack is a retired international English cricketer. Born in Gloucestershire he played for his home county from 1981 to 2004. Starting as a fast bowler he was soon inspired to try his hand at wicket keeping and become one of England’s finest.Known for archetypically being his ‘own man’ following a stellar career Jack went on to coach goalkeeping in professional football. The seeds of his post cricket life were being well sown during his playing days and since hanging up his gloves Jack has become an artist of renown, painting many famous images of his beloved sport and environment.Jack and Rob talk about his childhood and initial interest in cricket, his career and mentors, his understanding of performance and training and some of his biggest and most important experiences in cricket. KEY TAKEAWAYSJack started playing cricket at his fathers village club when he was eight or nine years old. He always competed agai

The sixth of a ten part series based on a book by Phil Denton and Micky Mellon, ‘The First 100 Days ; Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.’ They will donate all proceeds to the Len Johnrose Trust which will help in the fight against motor neurone disease and that’s a good enough reason to buy this book. It is, however, a brilliant book jam packed with wisdom on the art of management and Rob is going to introduce you to it over the next ten episodes.  KEY TAKEAWAYSKaizen means micro improvements. Little changes over a long period that create significant and lasting success.Strong, powerful, positive words are key to success.Know the culture of the organisation that you are joining. Make sure you understand your stakeholders requirements. Explain and share your strategy. Manage expectations. BEST MOMENTS‘I think probably one of the greatest sporting examples that’s been cited so many times is the British Cycling Team, masterminded, or led by, Sir David Brailsford who went about changing the course of

Inspired by an article about a professional football manager and insights from highly renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams, who has worked at the highest coaching levels, Rob collates this wisdom and presents it for you for use in your leadership role. He is going to share with you the way to be the greatest football manager on planet Earth.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The manager can be the reason for a great player's success. This is what every coach and manager aspires to. Your relationship with your team is the power behind your success. In Salahs quote, take note of ‘a loving manager’. Klopp created belief in Salah. BEST MOMENTS‘I do love knowledge and finding out new things really inspires me.’“Under Klopp any footballer can succeed. First time I met him he gave me the best hug that even my family has never given me. I went home with butterflies like I had found a new lover. He won my heart. I was not world class, but that hug awakened a beast inside me. I gave my all. I broke the premier league scoring record

Rob has encountered a number of key concepts that he would like to introduce to you. Gleaned from books, podcasts, leaders directly or from interviews, Rob distils it all down to easily applicable lessons for you to take forward in your leadership role.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Be authentic. Be who you actually are and enjoy the freedom it offers and the power it gives you in your pursuits. We need to be engaged with our world in order to achieve.Keep moving forward or time will drive you backwards. Time is not infinite.The questions we ask ourselves at the beginning lead our focus. The most important thing is your work.  BEST MOMENTS‘The way it actually works is you must first be who you really are. Then do what you need to do in order to have what you want.’‘We have to be proactive and do things in order for things to be influenced.’‘From the mouth off the fool often came words of wisdom. Better a witty fool than a foolish wit. What he’s saying there is it's ok to play the fool, its ok to not know, it’s ok to not be

Rob chats with Evan Burk, a former NFL and college football coach. Coach Burk has spent nearly two decades coaching elite athletes and leaders within top sports organisations to bring teams together, overcome adversity, and elevate high performers to achieve at their highest level. He uses his unique football coaching background to educate and inspire leaders, high performers, and teams for corporate clients and organisations by teaching the principles and practices learned from coaching teams at the highest levels of football. In 2022, Evan Burk released his first book, Finding Intangibles, in which he helps organisations identify the hidden traits that drive elite performers and championship teams. Evan is a speaker, author and podcast host educating audiences on leadership, high performance, and culture. KEY TAKEAWAYSEvan has progressed from a 4th grade football coach, on to a high school coach and onwards to coach at SMU and to the Miami Dolphins and UCLA. He has coached at every level of college football