Leader Manager Coach Podcast

Speaking from a beautiful spot in the Peak District, Rob discusses his thoughts on competition, in regards to success and failure, rest, relief of stress and defining what success is in your life. At what point should realism take over from constant positivity and how can we deal with the negative affects of failure and the confusing nature of success? KEY TAKEAWAYSRob draws from Ryan Holidays' philosophy of stoicism to demonstrate the brutal reality of life, and how constant positivity can become forced and tiring. Being ultra positive can be a negative.Things will take much longer to achieve than you originally think. If you look back at your own life, and consult those who have achieved what they aimed for, you will find it came with unforeseen struggles and tenacity. This constant ‘snakes and ladders' journey can end in exhaustion and disillusionment. Competition, especially in this modern world of social media, can grind your team down. Support them with good rest periods and rewards to a

Today Rob interviews training expert, author, and publisher Catherine Mattiske. Catherine is internationally renowned and consulted for her 30 years experience in personnel training and coaching and has helped countless numbers of professionals reach their business goals. Now she is taking her methods out to everyone, everywhere. KEY TAKEAWAYSCatherine wanted to be a teacher but was advised to take the path into corporate training and has expanded this for her whole career. She has analysed peoples preferences for communication and learning styles to optimise speed in learning times and information retention. There are twelve learning archetypes and efficiency is achieved by matching these up.By using this method you can create a team map to visualise the lines of communication within the team.If someone is learning against their learning preferences it will be almost impossible to get them to reach their potential.BEST MOMENTS ‘It became then this life passion of “how much can peop

Rob ends his deep dive into Eknath Easwaran's Words to Live By with episode 12. In this series of episodes Rob hopes to introduce you to the great man's wisdom so you can use all you learn to help you in your leadership role. He talks about, amongst others, self judgment, inner strength, past failures, and avoiding comparing yourself to those around you. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhatever it is you are endeavouring to achieve to give it all your effort and power but also be kind to yourself. Avoid self condemnation and judgement.Identify your weaknesses and work on them.You can control your life by controlling your mind. Internal self discipline is essential for progress for yourself and your team.The past is gone. There is no point replaying it, just learn and move on.Don't yearn after others success and abilities, follow your own path to your own success story.BEST MOMENTS ‘Yes, judge yourself, but judge yourself in a kind light so that you can have a learning experience, but avoid the condemnation.'&lsq

From an idyllic perch in the Peak District, Rob shares his personal passion for lighthouses, oak trees and chimneys as analogies for leadership in his imagination. All three are symbols of differing types of strength in the arena of leadership and coaching.  KEY TAKEAWAYSLighthouses. They stand on the most brutally dangerous, open, exposed places. They are beacons of success in mans ability to create and have longevity and provide safety. Oak trees. The grandest and most substantial. Hundreds of years old and have seen lifetimes pass. Create breathable air and shelter.Chimneys. Take away unwanted product. Their process provides warmth but their workings are hidden and unnoticed. They are all built upward against gravity which symbolises the constant battle of life and growth without complaint. BEST MOMENTS ‘“What on earth”, you may be thinking, “is he on about?”. Bear with me. Stick with me.'‘If we just allow ourselves to be blown about by natu

In this episode Rob interviews Dr Ruth Gotian. Author of “The Success Factor”, mentor and researcher in the field of high achievers and leaders, Dr Ruth shares her knowledge on how you excel in your leadership role. KEY TAKEAWAYSDr Ruth played football for many years and understands the requirements and intricacies involved in the game.Successful people all have similar skills which have facilitated their progress. Dr Ruth realised that she could study these areas and present them as a repeatable theory. Find your passion. Do it because you love it, not for external adulation. Bear in mind, however, that your passions change.Persistence is key. Be tenacious but also patient for results. Don't forget the basics. Keep reinforcing your basic skills and they will support everything else. Your fundamental skills are your doorway to your success.Keep learning. Be open to new knowledge constantly.  BEST MOMENTS‘Dr Ruth has interviewed high achievers, Nobel Prize winners, as

After watching Pete Thomas' “Finding Jack Charlton”, a comprehensive and detailed biographical documentary of the legendary football manager, Rob finds himself inspired to share some of the lessons Jack has learned through his extraordinary life. One of the standout lessons being you don't have to be abrasive to be an effective leader but you do need to be firm. KEY TAKEAWAYSTo lead you have to express your own beliefs and values and have these actioned and followed throughout your team, organisation or business. This does not require you to be detached and distant however. You can still show care for your people and guide them gently and considerately.Keep your message simple and direct. People tend to avoid complexity so avoid over complicating concepts and issues.Try to focus on the positive traits in peoples characters and skills and overlook as much as possible any negativity that can be considered a triviality. Ignore minor irritants that crop up in your relationship with your team

In this episode Rob talks about leadership from the life of player, manager and director the late great Walter Smith OBE. A colleague and friend, Rob recalls what lessons can be learned from this football legend and how they can be applied in your leadership role.   KEY TAKEAWAYSWalter talks about the essential nature of hard work to achieve success. He had to put in the effort to make a mark in the industry as a coach and in doing so cemented his relationships with others in the game. He spent a long time as an assistant manager in a number of positions, at one time assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson and so his level of experience is almost unmatched. This is what eventually made him into a great leader.Walter was very adaptable to the varying personalities he encountered in his career including some difficult ones. The importance of being compatible with those around you cannot be underestimated. He also followed his heart in his career. Happiness makes people excel in their jobs compar

Rob continues to share Eknath Easwaran's words of wisdom for you to apply practically in your leadership role.  KEY TAKEAWAYSSpontaneity is trained. It may look like someone has a natural instinct and talent but in fact they have learnt this skill at some point.Put your relationships with your team above the frustrations of short term problems and obstacles. Remember that life will not go smoothly. Expect the unexpected, remain supportive through difficult times.You often get disruptive characters in your everyday life. Have a set an immovable set of requirements for everyone to deal with this. BEST MOMENTS‘We can learn good habits, we can learn successful things, we can learn the best way and those actions can become spontaneous.'‘One of the things I've enjoyed most in coaching is I have been able to see things in players.'‘I will refuse to retaliate'‘Success is not worth it if your relationships are in tatters.' VALUABLE RESOURCES Leader Manager Coach Po

Rob offers his wisdom on achieving your leadership role and your goals within that role by utilising half a dozen rules to live by. Using his own experiences and also the wisdom of philosopher Henri Nouwen he focuses on the ways in which you can stay on target for your achievements. KEY TAKEAWAYSYou must remain centred in your task. If you meander, procrastinate and vacillate you will fail to achieve.Have faith in your abilities. Back yourself in your work. Project confidence.You must have balance in your life. Factor down time into your lifestyle to keep yourself sharp and focused. Create a safe space for yourself to relax.Be aligned, consistent, reliable and on target and message in your work. People need to be sure of your requirements to work with or be led by you.BEST MOMENTS ‘You can all recognise people in your own life who are wha some people call “all over the place”. Not focused on one thing. Not mindful..'‘You must have down time. Find that balance, it will give yo

In this episode Rob recounts his experience of a mutual arrangement gone awry. The costs of walking away from perhaps a working arrangement or provider-client situation can be high but often we need to take the loss or fail to do the right thing. Rob offers his advice on when to recognise this is the situation and to take action. KEY TAKEAWAYSListen to other peoples valuable experiences to learn how to deal with these situations as they arise.There is always the right and only thing to do, no matter what the cost.We live in a complicated modern world so it takes time and consideration and often looking below the surface to make the right decision.Cut out extraneous information from the outside world to de clutter your decision making process.BEST MOMENTS‘I like to share things for me that stand out as lessons on the journey.'‘Something inside me was telling me the situation wasn't quite right, so there's that intuition..'‘You know in your heart the right thing to do is share.'‘The

The second instalment of this two-part interview with The legendary Denis Smith who played over 400 games of football in his career and who went on to be the manager of renowned football clubs such as York and Oxford United. Today they discuss the importance of getting to know your colleagues and players, how to make it as a manager or coach and why you should always believe in yourself. KEY TAKEAWAYS No matter how much homework you do, you don't know the person until you work with them. When you start working with them you can begin to blend the way they do things in with the way that you do things. Sometimes it may not work but this could be due to personal problems that they bring into work that you have to understand and work through. Aspiring young coaches should smile and enjoy their role as it is a very rare opportunity that many people would love to have. In your football career, not everything is going to go right for you and there will be obstacles along the way as football is a

This week, Rob continues to share the phenomenal but simple philosophy of Eknath Easwaran and details how his teachings can help you achieve your goals in your leadership role. Rob discusses how the difficulties of modern challenges can be overcome with these practices to guarantee the progress of your team.KEY TAKEAWAYSWe need to be patient with those around us if we are to facilitate their success. Nothing of virtue arrives quickly.Face challenges head on. The longer we avoid dealing with problems the further we delay progress.Foster interdependency. Use your will power as leader in cooperation with others to achieve results together.Practice meditation to be able to present yourself as the calm, reliable and approachable leader you are.BEST MOMENTS‘One of the finest books on self development I ever read was by a guy called M.R.Kopmeyer'‘We are living through the ravages of a pandemic and it is a testament to peoples nature that they are able to see it through'‘All the great thinkers talk

After being inspired by the words of Henri Nouwen, Rob is here this week to share a set of philosophies that will improve your efficiency as a coach or trainer, make you a better leader and a more effective manager.KEY TAKEAWAYSBy making small changes we are able to assess and correct our progress incrementally.Often we need to accept being pushed out our comfort zone to progress.Do not forget rest and relaxation as an essential resource.You have to support and encourage to effectively allow those you are leading to reach their pinnacle.Leaders help people to be better.BEST MOMENTS‘I'm an avid reader and I like to share things that I think are very powerful from books that I read'‘As human beings we need to be forced to do things, to be pushed out our comfort zones'‘Remember the lessons from nature. You cannot go from zero to hero.'‘The greatest leaders are often the greatest servants.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Leader Manager Coach Podcast    ABOUT THE HOST&nbs

This week, Rob discusses Olympian Adam Peaty – the ways he has become so dominant in his sport, the routes that he's employed in order to achieve such incredible success, and the tremendous value he's demonstrated by remaining a normal human being despite his world-leading achievements.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe more refined the great athletes become, the harder It becomes to achieve even a second's more speed. A second might seem insignificant to us, but to an athlete, it represents years of work.When we come from humble beginnings, it can light the fire in extraordinary ways and push us to want to fight harder and do better.Many forget that despite global fame and sporting achievement, athletes in many cases have families and all the pressures that come with it.The best athletes have to try and they have to fail in order to refine their prowess and become the best. This means they are extraordinarily resilient.BEST MOMENTS ‘When you talk about the differences in swimming in one-hundredth of a second,

In something of a left-field episode, Rob talks to branding expert, entrepreneur and business turnaround specialist, Nadine Lewis, in a thought-provoking conversation about her experiences, the lessons she has learned on her empowering journey through business, why personal branding is crucial, and the teachings we can take into our own practices as leaders, managers and coaches.KEY TAKEAWAYSBranding is the one factor that sets you apart from everyone else. It marks you out as unique and makes people buy into you as a singular entity.We must begin by thinking outside of the box. We must identify our absolute ideal in life, which can then provide us with the finish line we wish to reach.Building a brand begins with working on our self-belief. It is about recognising the skills we possess, and using them as selling points.Success does not necessarily come through finding the right opportunities in life. True success comes from the journey itself and from learning through experience.BEST MOMENTS'I developed and

This week, the football world has lost one its most successful football managers, and one of the sporting world's true shining lights - Walter Smith, the Scottish association football player, manager and director, primarily associated with his two spells as manager of Glasgow club Rangers.In this episode Rob remembers this unique leader, and reflects upon his own association with Walter Smith, and recounts some of the leaderships principles he picked up first-hand while under his guidance.KEY TAKEAWAYSLeaders are often portrayed as great orators. But in some cases, a few well chosen words are far more effective and inspiring.We are at our best when we are made to feel comfortable in someone's presence. Walter had this gift, and as a result, was able to get the best out of those he met.Achievements are what we aim for, but the best leaders are those who do not boast or brag about them. Leaders who trust their people get the most out of them. If we empower someone to perform a task, we must allow them to w

Join Rob as he talks through the ninth instalment of his mini-series whereby he shares the teaching of the inspirational Eknath Easwaran. Today he discusses why you have to learn to love those people you find challenging, the importance of being aware of your self-will and why you should always believe in yourself and trust the journey you are on.  KEY TAKEAWAYS  You have to learn to love and deal with those that you find challenging. Without a doubt one of the most difficult things in life is dealing with people with who we do not resonate. They challenge our self-will and one of the life lessons is that those circumstances are there to teach us how to adapt. You have to believe in yourself and what it is you are, how you do it and believe in your path, otherwise you are doing yourself an enormous injustice. Do what it is that you believe in and if you do not believe in what you're doing you will not be getting the results that you deserve. If you want to be happy, successful an

Rob shares the great Sir Bobby Robson's 11 commandments of football in this episode of Leader Manager, Coach and discusses how these can be applied to all walks of life, not just football. Rob shares the importance of having self-control, why you should always react positively to criticism and the value in understanding what makes people tick.  KEY TAKEAWAYS These eleven principles were written by Sir Bobby himself, in his handwriting and read by his wife, Lady Elsie. They're from one of the most respected, professional managers that England has produced and yet they apply to any situation. You have to be in control of yourself before you can control anybody else. Learn to control and be in charge of yourself before you try to take charge of others. If you master the art of listening by keeping your mouth closed and your ears open and observing the situation, then that will take you a long way. Be self-disciplined so that you can command discipline from others. If you are disorga

By being the guide and not the hero you will become a leader. Rob dives into Donald Miller's book - Building a storybrand to analyse the seven aspects of your life's story and how they apply to business, brand and marketing. Discover what it takes to guide your customer on their journey and how you can find success applying the seven principles of life to your own story. KEY TAKEAWAYS  The whole of life is a story broken into seven aspects. A character with a problem and a guide to help them. There's a plan to follow, a call to action and assistance from others with the goal of ending in success. The principles of life can be applied to business, brand and marketing. By putting yourself out there to grow you become the hero of your story. But for you to become a leader you need to make your customer the hero of the story. We're all wired to focus on what we have to achieve but we have to learn empathy, compassion and caring in order to be successful in life. Be the guide, not the hero.&nbs

Rob is joined by a football legend, once deemed the ‘hardest man in football', Denis Smith to talk about his long-standing football career. Together, they discuss how hard work pays off in professional sport, how to play to your strengths and how community plays an important part in football. KEY TAKEAWAYS In life and professional sport, you have got to prioritize your career aspirations. You can't always have what you want in life but you have got to try and achieve what you want in life. It is fine to say you want to do something, but are you prepared to make the sacrifices?If you are wanting to play a professional sport for a living, you have got to get all the details perfect as well as being prepared to work hard at your sport as it has become a job for you rather than just a hobby.The blessing of having a life as a player in football means that you have to know what you're good at to do a good job for your team and manager. You need to know your strengths and weaknesses and make the best of t