Latest Podcast

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For this week’s episode we were joined by Great Coach Al Scates.

Before becoming a volleyball coach in 1964, Al was a collegiate All American player who also represented the USA national volleyball team. For 48 years he acted as the head coach of UCLA; with 19 NCAA titles under his belt he is not only the winningest volleyball coach in the history of the NCAA, but also tied for the most NCAA titles won by a coach in a single sport.

Al was selected as the NCAA coach of the year in 1984, 1987, and 1993 - the same year that he was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. His teams hold ten NCAA records, including most consecutive victories (48), most consecutive home wins (83), and most consecutive tournament wins (14).

Now 84 years old, Al is still as sharp and insightful as ever. His view of the world remains optimistic, and the lessons that he has taken from his decades of success remain as relevant today as they were when he first began coaching in the late 1960s.

Some of the highlights of the interview for me were:

• The training method Al used that encouraged players to move up and down across capability groups and how this resulted in improved work ethic and an egalitarian approach to selection.

• Hearing him read the John Wooden quotes that greatly influenced him as a young coach.

• His experiences with the four laws of learning and the stories he tells about the winning teams he coached across each of 5 consecutive decades.

This is one of those interviews that I think will appeal to leaders of all ages and levels of experience - make sure to take a listen and let me know what you think!

Ignorance Screams While Wisdom Listens

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If you haven’t already listened to Wednesday’s special podcast with returning guest and Great Coach Bill Sweetenham, then I really hope you’ll make the time to do so.

Longtime listeners of the podcast will remember that Bill previously joined us for a true masterclass of an interview that covered a variety of insights from his long and successful career as a swimming coach, as well as some brilliant stories about meeting Nelson Mandela and the great Angelo Dundee.

What you may not be aware of is the fact that Bill and I have stayed in contact ever since, and that I have been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some of the fantastic emails that he often sends his friends containing his observations on sport and life.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the part of Australia where Bill lives, and I couldn’t help but ask him if he would let me record him once more, this time focusing on a few of the ideas that he had shared in his emails. Thankfully, he agreed.

Wednesday’s podcast - named after the book Bill was working on at the time we recorded it - is a recording of our recent conversation and covers a number of fantastic topics, including mental health, team collaboration, and the value of volunteering.

Spending time with Bill was a great experience for me, and I hope you'll all enjoy listening to the interview as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Behind The Scenes - Leadership In Action

The guests on our podcast often share insights into the leadership methods and techniques that they use with their teams and athletes. I know that a number of you like to take notes while you listen, and that you later implement some of the ideas you’ve heard with your own teams, organisations, and families.

With that being said, not all of us can take an idea and immediately turn it into something actionable. Particularly in the case of newer, less experienced leaders, it can often be helpful and preferable to see these leadership techniques in action in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of how certain methods can be put into practice.

This great 10 minute video from Box Hill Hawks Football Club takes us behind the scenes with Senior Coach Sam Mitchell as he delivers a pre-game address, motivates his team on the field, and then finishes the day with a post-match wrap.

Take a listen to the way he speaks to the team in each situation, and the way that he balances encouragement and camaraderie with clear direction and leadership. Is there anything you can take from this video and apply to your own interactions?

The Great Coaches At Your Next Event

If you’re looking to add something inspiring to your next event, then why not bring the voices of some of the sporting world’s greatest coaches into the room?

Watch the short video below to learn more about what we have to offer.

Partners

This newsletter is brought to you by Macquarie University Business School’s MBA program. Designed to empower, challenge and transform, the Macquarie MBA gives you the business skills and knowledge you need to succeed in an evolving global economy.

The program bridges the gap between theory and real-world application, bringing together world-leading professors, executives and industry partners to teach you how business can be used for good.

I have started working with the team at Macquarie on some projects and can attest to the quality of the people and material. To find out more, click the link below or search for Macquarie University Business School’s MBA.

Find out more: https://www.mq.edu.au/macquarie-business-school/

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