When Training & Experience Are Not Enough

The Shift You Can’t Make On Your Own

Last weekend, I ran a half marathon. And somewhere around mile 9, with my legs burning and my lungs on fire, something hit me: this is exactly how leadership development works.

Over 13.1 miles, I was reminded that great improvements don't happen through sheer effort alone. They happen through intentionality and community. And sometimes, that community shows up through coaching.

The Power of Subtle Shifts

There are some things in life that improve dramatically with subtle shifts:

• Shift from Keurig to French Press coffee.

• Shift from flat walks to inclined walks.

• Shift from chicken sandwiches to Hatch green chili chicken sandwiches.

• Shift from doing it on your own to working with a coach.

That last one isn't just a punchline. Leaders who work with coaches report a 70% increase in individual performance and a 50% increase in team performance. And 86% of companies say they made their investment back. The ROI is real.

I can attest to this personally. Over the past five years, I've relied on two leaders to coach me through challenging situations and help me create opportunities so we can serve our clients better. Without their coaching, I'd still be running the same playbook—limiting how we show up for the leaders we work with.

A Couch-to-Half-Ironman Confession

A few months ago, I told you I signed up for a half Ironman. A couch-to-half-Ironman experience, to be specific. And quite frankly, there have been more than a few nights when I've thought, "What the heck am I doing?"

When this journey started at the end of September, I could barely muster a 5K—running 12-minute miles. But a commitment is a commitment.

Then, in January, I started swimming. My wife and sister-in-law sat me down with a serious look of concern. I remember the moment—we were at Flyway in Fayetteville. Tiffany looked at me and said, "Do you know how to swim? Because it looks like you're on the verge of drowning." My wife supportively chuckled, also nervous because she knows I won't quit.

It didn't matter how many hours I spent running or swimming—my times were still abysmal. Something needed to change. I needed to quickly and dramatically improve if I was going to give myself a chance to finish in Omaha on June 6.

What Shifted?

My brother-in-law started sending weekly coaching plans and ran with me. My swim coach showed me how to breathe, find technique, and settle into a rhythm.

What used to take 90 minutes in the water now takes 40.

Training and experience weren't enough. I needed someone who could see what I couldn't and help me make the shifts I couldn't find on my own.

What About You?

Are there challenges you've been trying to navigate, but for some reason, you can't make the shift happen?

• Working on executive presence and leading at the next level

• Striving to avoid burnout even though your numbers look great

• Priorities and goals used to come easily, but internal politics and new relationships are getting harder to manage

• Podcasts and books haven't helped you turn the corner

Here's our encouragement: if you're stuck, stop trying to navigate it on your own.

Just like we needed a coach to become better ball players, musicians, and chefs, we need coaches to become better leaders. Don't remain in a state of exhaustion, frustration, and stress when the right guide could change everything. Maybe it's a mentor. Maybe it's a peer or a good friend. Maybe it's time to find the right coach.