The Great Coaches: There Is No Algorithm For Leadership

In this episode, we explore why connection is a critical leadership capability and how it contributes to thriving teams. Drawing on insights from elite coaches across rugby, tennis, basketball, Australian rules football, American football, and netball, the conversation examines how leaders create cohesion, deepen trust, and help people understand the part they play in something larger than themselves.

Key Ideas

•Cohesion predicts performance: Teams succeed when people understand each other, their roles, and the system they are operating within.

•Connection requires emotional commitment: True connection involves care, honesty, hard conversations, and the willingness to support one another.

•Authenticity builds trust: Leaders strengthen connection by sharing stories, being honest about challenge and care, and creating space for others to do the same.

•Small moments matter: Visibility, daily check-ins, shared meals, and simple acts of acknowledgement can reinforce connection over time.

•Everyone needs to see their impact: Strong leaders help every person understand how their work contributes to the team’s larger purpose.

•Connection can be observed and evaluated: Leaders can look for behaviours that show whether people are trusting, supporting, and influencing each other effectively.

Leadership Takeaways

1.Prepare connection before people come together. Leaders can build stronger teams by encouraging support, contact, and shared investment even when people are apart.

2.Make authenticity practical. Connection grows when people understand each other’s stories, motivations, hardships, and aspirations.

3.Be present and visible. Leadership connection is often created through brief but meaningful interactions that signal care and attention.

4.Show people how the work connects. Every role matters; leaders should make the links between visible and invisible contributions clear.

5.Ask what each person is willing to do for the team. Sacrifice is not only what people give up, but also what they are prepared to do for others.

Reflection Questions for Leaders

·     What are you doing when you are apart, to prepare for the times when you will come together?

·     What can you do to be more authentic with each other?

·     How can you share more information about yourself with each other in a way that deepens your understanding of what drives each of you?

·     How can you use daily, small moments to stay connected?

·     What more could you do to understand the linkages between the people who support you?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Anders Torstensson on Building Mjällby’s Kaizen Culture Through Calm, Teamwork and Detail

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

Anders shares how Mjällby’s rise from relegation struggles to cup finalists and champions was built on club-wide structure, kaizen-style continuous improvement, and teamwork rather than one coach’s decisions. He explains creating conditions for intrinsic motivation, training with maximum intensity and game-specific opposition, and obsessing over small efficiencies that compound. He describes using a small staff effectively through delegation, trust and regular feedback surveys, plus monthly meetings with a player council. Adversity—financial constraints, player sales, and his leukemia diagnosis—strengthened resilience and sharpened his process focus on solutions. He emphasizes clarity on core values, selecting good people, staying calm, being fair, and making hard decisions without being harsh.

Q. Do you truly know who you are and what you stand for?

Q. When adversity hits, do I focus on the problem or the solution?

Q. What energy am I bringing to the people around me?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Todays episode is On Leadership and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches.

The first is Mike Dunlap. Mike is a basketball coach who has led teams in US Colleges, the NBA and in Australia. He was also an assistant with the  Milwaukee Bucks when then they defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship in 2021.

The second is Rugby Union coach Franco Smith. As a player Franco represented South Africa as well as playing for clubs in South Africa, Italy, France and Wales. As a coach he has led teams to National Championships in Italy and South Africa and is presently the head coach of the Glasgow Warriors.

Q: How do you mitigate the loneliness you might feel as a leader?

Q: What philosophy guides you as a leader

Q: What did you do today to lead by example?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, we sit down with legendary rugby union coach John Connolly, affectionately known as "Knuckles". From his early days jumping into boxing rings and playing cricket, to leading elite clubs like the Queensland Reds, Stade Francais, Swansea, Bath, and the Australian Wallabies across 500 games, John shares his raw, deeply honest philosophy on what it truly takes to build a winning culture.

We explore the concepts of single-minded toughness, the practicalities of giving players a 12-month advance warning when their time in the jersey is coming to an end, and how he famously moved rule-breaking players into his own home to reinforce team standards. John also opens up about his life-altering accident in 2021 that left him a quadriplegic. He discusses how he found the mental strength to accept his new reality, stay positive through family support, and use his extensive network to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for spinal injury research and patient comfort.

Key Takeaways:

• Pride in the Jersey: Why a coach's job is to make players realize they aren't just representing themselves, but the legacy of the team shirt.
• Enforcing a Vision: How true team toughness stems from absolute single-mindedness toward a shared goal.
• Authentic Leadership: The critical importance for young coaches to remain true to their own personality rather than copying others.
• Resilience Beyond Sport: How John refused to let his spinal injury define him, leveraging his leadership skills to support the Perry Cross Foundation.

Q: What role does pride play in your teams identity?

Q: How do you find the balance between single mindedness and being open to new ideas?

His adventures are captured in his book Bare Knuckles it’s a terrific read and all the money raised from it go to the Perry Cross Foundation

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: The Great Coaches Newsletter

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, Georgia State Head Football Coach Dell McGee shares his deeply reflective approach to leadership, culture building, and talent identification, drawing from his extensive experience across high school powerhouses and championship-winning SEC programs.

Key Highlights:

• The 4 C's of Team Culture: Coach McGee breaks down the cultural blueprint he instituted at Georgia State: Connection, Commitment, Competitiveness, and Composure.
• Eliminating the Gray Area: The vital importance of creating distinct, black-and-white expectations to foster deep organizational buy-in and prevent commitment from eroding.
• Uncovering the "Why": How vulnerability serves as the ultimate catalyst for genuine connection, allowing coaches to understand their players' true motivators and know exactly "what buttons to push."
• The "WIN" Acronym: Staying firmly anchored in the present moment by prioritizing "What’s Important Now" rather than looking too far into the future.
• Holistic Recruiting: Why looking beyond surface data—and even interviewing the high school cafeteria staff—uncovers the core character traits essential for maintaining the right type of program.
• A Lifeline Forever: Reflecting on the profound responsibility of mentorship and the bold promise to remain a supportive anchor for players long after their football careers conclude.

Q: What are the pillars that define your teams’ culture?

Q: What are some of the purpose’s that drive the people in your team?

Q: How well are you able to regulate emotional ups and downs during tough times?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: The Great Coaches Newsletter

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Todays episode is on Great Team Work, and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches.

The first is Lisa Alexander.

Lisa was the coach of the Australian Netball team, known as the Diamonds, from 2011 to 2020. During that time She oversaw gold medal successes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup, as well as silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Netball World Cup.

And the second is John Kessel

John was the Team Leader for the 2000 USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Teams in Sydney, which brought home one gold medal, and for the 2004 USA Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team in Athens, which came home with the bronze medal.

He is the author of over 12 books, including the IMPACT coaching manual, which is now in its 33rd edition. in 2024, he was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame and today travels around the world talking about coaching, particularly in the youth space.

Q: how do you describe great team work?

Q: How often do you catch people doing good; versus calling out areas for improvement? 

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, we sit down with world-champion player and renowned international field hockey coach Jamilon Mülders. From beginning his coaching journey at the age of twelve to leading national programs across Germany, China, and the Netherlands, Jamilon shares a deeply reflective perspective on what it means to lead with humility, empathy, and authentic connection.

We explore the profound shift from a traditional, hierarchical "joystick coach" model to a truly player-centered approach where the human being is kept firmly at the center of attention. Jamilon opens up about his personal "aha moment" in 2022 when he finally learned to coach authentically, shedding the rigid expectations of what a head coach "should" look like in favor of a calm, casual, and supportive presence.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Coach as a Servant: Why the greatest leaders act as servants to the group, focusing entirely on what the athletes and organization need to thrive.
• Learning from the Future: A powerful framework for setting an overarching vision years in advance, then reverse-engineering individual development plans to guide personal and tactical progress.
• Building Psychological Safety and Trust: The critical importance of establishing a strong personal relationship and common ground before delivering challenging or critical performance messages.
• Embracing Vulnerability: Moving past perfectionism to create environments where showing weakness, admitting mistakes, and learning from failure are actively respected.
• Beyond Wins and Medals: Why true coaching success lies in nurturing social competence, mental health, and personal growth, ensuring athletes walk away as more complete human beings long after their competitive careers end.

Q: What routines do you have in place to deliver tough messages?

Q: To what extent do you agree with the idea of being a servant to the group as the leader?

Q: Has there been times when you have been ‘blind-spotted’ by a goal

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: The Great Coaches Newsletter

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of Thriving—a term that has seen its popular interest and media relevance double since 2016. Host Paul Barnett sits down with two exceptional guests to break down what it means to move past mere survival and truly optimize both individual performance and collective growth.

Our Guests:

• Valorie Kondos Field ("Miss Val"): Legendary former head coach of the UCLA gymnastics team, 7-time NCAA Champion, and PAC12 Coach of the Century.
• Dr. Gavin Weeks: Doctor of Psychology, Associate Fellow at Oxford Saïd Business School, and author of an integrated model of individual thriving.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• The Anatomy of Thriving: Thriving is defined as the joint experience of development and sustained success. While "flow" is often a fleeting, momentary experience during an athletic performance, thriving is long-term and sustained.
• Resilience vs. Indomitable Mindset: Miss Val shares how her athletes felt "indomitable"—a state of being so thoroughly prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically that fear and concern vanish entirely.
• The Team Leader’s Blueprint: Facilitating a thriving culture requires a delicate balance between granting individual autonomy and maintaining a shared connection to a larger purpose. It involves celebrating the distinct individuality of each person rather than forcing rigid compliance.
• Silencing the Noise: True long-term growth requires building a personal sanctuary and anchoring choices to a strong moral foundation, entirely independent of external validation or others' opinions.
• The Power of Everyday Practices: Shifting focus away from unpredictable end-of-season outcomes and toward "controllables"—such as a daily 1% improvement mindset and starting with collective gratitude—unlocks a team's true brilliance.

Q: How does your organization experience thriving? What can you do to facilitate this?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: link

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, we sit down with legendary NBA assistant coach Ron Adams to explore his deeply impactful philosophy of "people building."Drawing from his unique childhood growing up on a farm in California's Central Valley, Ron compares the continuous, daily cultivation required in agriculture to the dedication needed to unlock human potential in sport and business.

Ron shares invaluable insights from his illustrious career, spanning over five decades across major universities and elite NBA franchises—including his current championship run with the Golden State Warriors.He dives deep into the evolution of coaching from a rigid, dictatorial model to today's collaborative, relational environment where an athlete's voice is highly valued.We also unpack the heavy crown of being an authentic "truth teller" for high-pressure head coaches, the transformative power of leading a team with true joy, and why he views defensive strategy as a form of altruistic giving.

Key Highlights:

• The Agriculture of Coaching: Why real leadership requires a seven-day-a-week commitment to nurturing, fertilizing, and patiently watching your team grow.
• Painting a Greater Picture: How to help your team members see a grander vision for themselves that exceeds their own self-imposed expectations.
• The Three Mantras of Golden State: A look inside the culture of the Warriors and how Steve Kerr leverages joy, mindfulness, and fierce competition to build an environment that bends but never breaks.
• Leading From the Bottom Up: A powerful lesson on how developing your bench or lower-level employees can shift an entire organization's ecosystem.
• The Lifelong Journey of Formation: Why a growth mindset means accepting that no one is ever truly "fully formed"—whether they are an 18-year-old rookie or a 70-year-old veteran.

Q: What role does Joy play in your organisation?

Q: What support do you have to help you discern well?

Q: To what extent does fealty exist in your team?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: link

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There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

In this episode, we connect with Shane Jurgensen, former first-class cricketer turned elite international coach. From his early playing days across multiple Australian states to his time guiding the national teams of Bangladesh, Fiji, and New Zealand, Shane has developed a deeply reflective and human-centric approach to high performance. Currently serving as the Head Coach of the Wellington Firebirds, Shane reflects on his journey and the core principles that define his leadership strategy.

Key Takeaways From the Episode:

• The Battle of Boring: Shane discusses the necessity of embracing the daily grind to establish rock-solid fundamental skills before attempting to innovate.
• Servicing People Through Empathy: Discover how a genuine interest in a player's life outside of sport serves as the ultimate differentiator, building a "sandcastle" of trust that supports tough conversations.
• Dispersed Leadership: Insights into the New Zealand Black Caps' environment during their inaugural ICC World Test Championship run, where long tenures and player-led accountability shared the leadership load.
• Your Job Description is the Minimum: Why going above and beyond your defined role is crucial for fostering a collaborative, elite team environment.
• The Power of Connection Over Strategy: How intentional team rituals—ranging from personal icebreaker questions to breaking bread—can dismantle egos and build collective selflessness.

Key Questions:

·     What routines do you use to open team meetings? How they can be used to deepen seflessness within the group?

·     What is the level of dispersed leadership across your team?

·     How are your development plans spread across improving base capabilities versus growing new ones?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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