Vince Lombardi…with a Little Bit of Mom

My coaching style was once described by a client as “Vince Lombardi…with a little bit of mom in there.”

Now, for those of you who don’t know who Lombardi is (I guess there are people out there who don’t)…a little background. Vince Lombardi was a legendary, Hall of Fame Green Bay Packers coach during the 1960s. He lead that team to win the first two Super Bowls ever. And speaking of the Super Bowl…that tall silver trophy they give out to Super Bowl champions? It’s call the Lombardi Trophy. For more about him, check out Lombardi’s official site.

Growing up, Vince Lombardi was an important figure to me. He and his team stood for integrity, honor and discipline. I practically never missed a game. In reading his biographies throughout the years, I discovered his deep belief in his teams and desire to tirelessly get the most from them when they themselves didn’t think it was possible.

I’ve carried that ethos into my coaching practice, as this video explains…

Strength and Empathy

As I assess an executive at their initial stage of coaching, I’m always excited to go on the journey of transformation with them. As they evolve, so do I. We’re connected. As we meet and achieve mileposts, we celebrate together. With each achievement comes the opportunity to look back and notice the choice you now have in your behavior. You can either go back to the “old” you or remain in the “new” you. It’s now your choice, because you’ve succeeded at both.

It takes discipline to coach. You’ve got to have the desire for someone to grow. But the “mom” part comes in via the empathy required to support someone through their levels of behavior experimentation. The people I coach…their jobs are hard. They are required to deliver strong recommendations, sometimes at a moment’s notice, and be convincing. Far more than selling…it is persuading with purpose. I get that and use empathy to connect so that they trust what I’m telling them will, ultimately, improve their confidence, performance and results. It’s a balance between strong, direct communication and a softer approach that creates a safe atmosphere for development.

How would you describe your professional style? Leave a reply with your answer below. Thanks! -SG