Leadership Team Coaching With Renowned UK Leadership Coach, Martin Perry
His Leadership Managers Smirked When He Said He Was Bringing In A Leadership Coach. But When They Made Over £1m In Operating Profit... He Had The Last Laugh... And The Champagne!
Football league management is a precarious occupation. Life-expectancy in most jobs is around eighteen months. Insecurity holds sway, as managers know that the sack is just a run of defeats away.
But managers don't get sacked by accident. It's a combination of factors. But the most important one is that these managers were not able to create a united team that performed to their potential. And critically, failed to ask for outside help to correct these urgent issues.
Does Fear Of Failure Inhibit Your Leadership Team?
Amazingly, I almost turned down the job at first. To be honest I wasn't sure if I could make a difference. My perception was, that night-club managers exuded a well-developed sense of 'superiority'.
But, after careful thought, I recognised this as a genuine challenge. Luminar Leisure's Area Manager, Martin Winter had seen the enthralling BBC Horizon documentary on Sven Goran Eriksson.
How the Swede had engineered an amazing 5-1 England World Cup win over Germany in Munich, with a simple psychological concept called Dare To Lose To Win.
Martin was one of those smart managers, who was always seeking the edge. A manager open to new ideas and approaches. The vital 1%'s that make the small, but critical differences.
Martin was keen to know how the Dare To Lose To Win concept, could rub off on his under-performing managers. And he wanted me to explain it all.
The Leadership Team Had Become Fearful Of Making Mistakes...
So that is how I found myself in Skegness Butlin's, one September afternoon. Talking to thirty of the UK's top night-club managers, on how fear of failure undermines talent and ability.
I needn't have been concerned about the talk. These managers were hungry for knowledge. Hungry to learn how to improve. Keen to discover how they could overcome the fear of failure. And make more profit!
Fear of failure that had infiltrated the culture at Luminar Leisure PLC. Luminar had a market value at the time of £30m. They were one of the largest late-night operator in the UK. Which shows that even the biggest of companies are not afraid to ask for help.
But, Luminar's managers had become fearful of making mistakes. Fearful, in case they lost the company money. Fearful of their jobs.
But this inhibition and caution, was limiting innovation and ideas. And the late night entertainment industry, thrives off the currency of new ideas.
Without fresh ideas, you are simply copying what everyone else is doing. And that is no way to stay ahead of the competition, is it?
Here's Why Leadership Teams Underachieve...
The talk that afternoon at Butlin's was a raging success. I carefully explained how winners hate to lose, but are not afraid of losing. I demonstrated how the sense of fear is always much worse than the actual failure!
I showed how England hammered Germany 5-1, motivated by the psychological concept of Dare To Lose To Win.
Simply put, if your team has 100% of possibility, then if it is underachieving, it is because it is only using a maximum of 60% of that possibility.
So where does the other 40% go? Well 20% is reserved for fear of failure. And the other 20% is reserved for fear of success!
The key to liberate the unused potential of your team, is to start by releasing 20% of the fear of failure. In other words, to take away the pressure of failing.
That is what Sven successfully did, when England put Germany to the sword that September night in Munich. The 5-1, was the result of the release of 20% of potential! What could your company achieve, if we released 20% of it's latent potential?
And that is what we did, that September afternoon at Skegness Butlin's. At the end of the session, Martin's team no longer seemed afraid of failure.
And now, critically, they had permission to tap into their entrepreneurial instincts. They left for home in buoyant and excited mood. They felt empowered!
Note: Not everyone will agree with Sven's managerial style. But on that night in Munich, the Dare To Lose To Win philosophy came together in spectacular fashion.
This Target Isn't Big Enough!
Martin invited me back to see his managers a few months later. After the Dare To Lose To Win session in Butlin's, their confidence was high. Now they were ready for the vital next step.
At our second meeting in Luton, we wanted to agree on some collective outcomes. Targets that would be representative of the talent in the room. Talent, such as Batchwood Hall's Peter Bell. Northampton Liquid's Mark May. Some of the best leaders and managers in the late-night entertainment industry.
And this is where our work together became very inspiring! The managers came up with a figure, that they felt represented a good operating profit for the year. It was a decent achievable target. But crucially, one that was well within their capability.
Then the self-confident Andy Grieve from Hemel Hempstead's Time & Envy stood up, and said that the target that had been agreed, was not big enough. Not challenging enough. Not bold enough. Not daring enough!
Andy's intervention sent electricity crackling around the room. What was he thinking of? He was raising the bar way too high.
Yet, all the managers knew that he was right. That the target that had been set, was in their comfort zone.
So they agreed to reset their target, based on achieving an operating profit that excited and energised them. It was way out of their comfort zone.
But - they were daring to lose to win. With no fear of failure!
Let's Make Company History!
So that is how Martin Winter's leadership team set a daring collective target for themselves. An operating profit that had never before been achieved, in Luminar's long and distinguished history!
I went to meet up with Martin's group of managers every month. I introduced them to new winning mind-sets. I built their personal confidence.
I told them powerful stories, of how the top sports professionals achieve sustained success. I helped them build a unbreakable team-spirit.
The Leadership Team All Wore Coloured Braces!
With each month, I saw Martin's leadership team grow in confidence and self-belief. They were no longer jealous of each others success. Worried that another's success, would show them in a poor light. No - now, they saw a success for one manager, as a success for all.
They shared knowledge. They shared insights. They offered each other support. In short they became a team. But, importantly, without compromising their individuality. And success became contagious!
I knew the moment, when I had established rapport with the managers. When I delivered my sessions, I always wore a pair of distinctly coloured braces. I had a large and varied collection.
One session in Northampton, just as I began my talk, all the managers, in unison, removed their suit jackets. To reveal to a man, all of them wearing coloured braces!
The Operating Profit Is Smashed!
At the end of the financial year, the operating profit was counted up. And Martin Winters group of managers, had broken all records. They had made over £1m in operating profit. The first area to do so in the history of Luminar Leisure!
That night in Luton, as the managers toasted their collective success, they laughed at the moment when Martin Winter said that he was going to bring in a Leadership Coach.
They were still laughing. But now with happiness, not cynicism, as they ordered more champagne from the bar!
It was no surprise that Martins team did so well. They were a talented group, who had been under-performing. Not through lack of ability. But because of fear of failure. Once that fear was removed, their talent and ability shone through!
The Top Five Reasons Why Leadership Teams Under-Perform...
From my experience of working with teams in business and sport, here are the five top reasons that executive and leadership teams under-perform:
- Back-Biting, Politics & In-Fighting: All going on un-checked, leading to major rifts and division in the team. A team divided, not united.
- Fear Of Failure / Success: The working culture doesn't allow the talent in people to shine.
- Lack Of A Collective Cause: Leading to everyone doing their own thing. No sense of mission or purpose. And of course, de-motivation.
- Ineffective Leadership: The leader may fail to give clear direction to the team. But in my experience, this can be resolved with guidance and clear-thinking.
- The Quiet Suppression: A negative atmosphere prevails, preventing team-members from being able to speak their mind freely and safely. Thus the dominant individuals call the shots.
Who Has The Leadership Coach Helped Recently?
- A Championship football team, get off to their best start to the season in years.
- A Sales Team who had been badly under-performing, deliver record-breaking year end results.
- A Chicago Rock Cafe unit, finally come together, overcoming differences, and work together as a team.
- A team of Prison Officers, who were under significant stress, overcome communication problems, to lead their teams to deliver excellent results.
- A small family business, who were under severe financial stress, work through their challenges, and finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
Martin Perry - The Leadership Coach...Is The Master Of His Art!
Damian Hughes, the HR Director of Unilever Europe, read my sports psychology column in 442 magazine, and hired me to coach under-performing managers and leaders, at the Unilever flagship factory at Port Sunlight. He had this to say about my work.
"Martin Perry is a master of his art. He is unique within British industry. In my experience, Martin possesses the wit, courage and ability to make the spectacular happen, and to release the untapped potential that we all possess, both as individuals and within teams.
"I would encourage anyone reading this to extend an invite to Martin, share your challenge, light the blue touch paper and then stand well back and enjoy the show!"
Martin Perry - The Leadership Coach...Is Inspirational!
Lucy Green, one of the night club managers for Luminar Leisure, had this to say about my work:
'I found the session inspirational. Possibly one of the most positive moments I have had since joining Luminar. I am at heart an optimist and found the ideas positive and atmosphere liberating.
I really appreciate the fact that you treated everyone in the same way, encouraging energy and thoughts from members of staff, who are lower in the hierarchy.
I felt as if we had broken down barriers and were considering everyone as equal - an important gesture in the search for new and fresh ideas'.
The Essence Of The Dream!
Raff Sciffo passed away a few years ago. He was an inspirational figure, who created the AWARE Therapy Centre, in Hertfordshire. He had these comments to make, after I worked with him and his team:
'I want to show you my appreciation for the magnificent work you have been doing for my business dream. I have met many executive coaches and Gurus, but although you do what they do in analysing statistics, you perceive the essence of the dream'.
Lets Get The Transformation Started...
My leadership team coaching will help you rebuild the confidence of your under-performing team. You may have thought of calling someone like me before. But maybe you weren't sure what was involved. Or even if it would work?
Never mind what the lads would say, if they found out you'd be bringing in a Leadership Team Coach! (Don't worry - everything we do, will take place in the strictest confidence. I do not talk to the press or radio, about the work I do with my clients).
If you have never experienced the transformation that leadership coaching will bring, then I would like to offer you the chance of working with me.
What If...
If I were to work with your under-performing leadership team, and help them translate talent into results, what outcomes would now be possible?
If your team is subject to internal politics and back-biting, and I help create a united team, what difference would this make to staff morale?
If I were to remove the Quiet Suppression that prevents people speaking their minds, and create an atmosphere of trust, what difference would this make to staff confidence?
If I were to liberate your team from fear of failure, and create a Dare To Lose To Win culture, what difference would this make to the release of people's brilliance?
If I were to ensure that your personal leadership brings out the very best in your team, what would this do to your self-esteem?
You'll Have To Act Fast!
We can work on any aspect of your team that needs transforming. My wish, is to get the team enjoying their work again. I will be helping you, develop simple, but hugely effective strategies, to get back on track, asap!
So if you get the strong feeling, your success depends on my immediate intervention, I strongly urge
you to act now. For me to give you the level of Leadership Team Coaching that you deserve, I must limit the number of clients I support.
If you hesitate now, you may miss out on improving your teams performance, just for the sake of a phone call!
Call Me Now!
So, call me on my personal mobile - 077897 56425. Tell me your situation, in complete confidence. From talking to me, you will quickly see how I can help the group.
Or if you prefer, fill in the form below. Please write a response to each of the questions, then send it to me using the 'Start Coaching' button at the end of the form.
You will then receive a call or email from me, to arrange a time to talk. Then, when you feel you can trust me, we will arrange your Leadership Team Coaching session.
By the end of this pivotal coaching session, you will finally see the prize at the end of the rainbow.
To Sum Up The Benefits To Your Leadership Team...
So to sum up...you will get:
- Bigger & Better Team Achievements
- The Creation Of A Success Culture
- More Confidence & Less Doubt In Your Team
- More Consistent Performances From Individuals
- Less Problems & Aggravation For You The Leader
- Increased Individual Personal Satisfaction
- A Renewed Motivation & Buzz Around The Place
- More Energy & Vitality As The Team Confidence Grows
- More Money As Performances Are Rewarded
- More Respect & Communication From Within The Group
Take the plunge. Don't be left behind!
Are You Ready To Get Started?
So - it begins by taking the first step. The adventure begins here. Now's the chance to get things moving forward immediately.
1: CALL ME TODAY ON - 077897 56425.
Most clients prefer to phone me. It means that they are in control and taking action by talking to me.
2: Or write a response to each of these questions, then send it to me using the 'Start Coaching' button at the end of the form. You will then receive an invitation from me, via email or phone, to chat about why your team is under-performing.
Remember - you could wait and hope that by magic, the executive team confidence returns. But experience tells me that rarely happens. There is a reason why your team have lost their confidence. The sooner we get started, the faster the team will be back to their confident best.
They Even Made Their Own Movie!
Once all the other managers at Luminar Leisure, heard what was happening with Martin's team, they all wanted me to work with them. Which I did. And we had great success.
But Martin's team still set the benchmark for the rest to follow. They became a company within the company, even making a movie, previewed at Hemel Hempstead Odeon, about their success culture!