Why Leaders Need Coaches Like Athletes: The Deep Dive

This week, Alex and Emily are discussing a question that makes most executives uncomfortable: why would someone at the top of their game need a coach?

Drawing from Julien’s latest blog post, they explore the fascinating parallel between elite athletes and C-suite leaders. Tiger Woods won eight majors with a swing coach. LeBron has a shooting coach. Serena works with a performance team. We accept this logic completely in sports, so why do executives think they should go it alone?

The conversation digs into a Stanford study revealing that two-thirds of CEOs receive no external coaching, even though 100% said they want it. Alex and Emily unpack the four essential functions a good coach provides: holding up the mirror to reveal blind spots, creating accountability, serving as a confidant for thoughts you can’t share with your board, and building sustainable performance that prevents burnout before it starts.

They also explore the different types of coaching available, executive, leadership, performance, transition, and mental fitness, and discuss when each makes sense. This episode is essential listening for any leader wondering whether asking for help is a sign of weakness or wisdom.