065: Avoiding Leadership Shock: How Rugby Lessons Shape Top CEOs with Pete Steinberg

Evolve: A New Era of Leadership

In this episode, I’m joined by Pete Steinberg, a leadership and innovation expert with a notable background in sports coaching and corporate leadership development. Pete shares his unique perspective on the symbiotic relationship between coaching world cup rugby and the dynamic realm of corporate management.

Drawing on his extensive experience, including coaching the USA women’s rugby team in two World Cups and the Rio Olympics, Pete illustrates the critical lessons that rugby can teach us about leadership in the business world. Our conversation delves into his book, "Leadership Shock," where Pete outlines his innovative approach to leadership that challenges conventional norms and offers new strategies to adapt to the rapidly changing business landscape.

Pete Steinberg is a leadership and innovation expert with extensive experience consulting with top Fortune 500 professionals. He also has more than 20 years of experience as an elite rugby coach, coaching the USA Women’s Rugby Team at two World Cups and the Rio Olympics.

As a former U.S., international, and Olympic sports coach and commentator for major outlets such as CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports, Pete has a track record of bringing teams to victory. He has won 11 National Championships with the Penn State Women, MARFU Men, and Temple Women rugby teams. He has also worked with the Men’s Eagles and other age-grade programs within the U.S. National team pathway. Pete was the Head of Coach Development for USA Rugby, leading the program as it became integrated into the World Rugby programs.

Pete is also the President of Innovative Thought, a business consultancy focused on leadership and organizational development. He supports clients in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, marketing, recruiting and organizational development. Pete works regularly as an executive coach for senior executives of global companies.

Pete holds affiliated faculty positions with the Tepper Business School at Carnegie Mellon University and the Smeal College of Business at Penn State.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways:

• Leadership and Sports: Pete explores how coaching rugby offers invaluable lessons for corporate leadership, emphasizing a player-centered approach and the necessity of empowering team members to make decisions. 🏉

• Leadership Shock: Pete details his methodology in his book, explaining how traditional leadership approaches are often jolted by the demands of modern business environments, and how adapting these strategies is crucial for success. 📈

• Corporate Athletes: The discussion highlights how business professionals are like athletes, where performance, resilience, and strategic thinking play critical roles. 🚴

• From Sports to Corporate: Insights into how skills honed on the rugby field translate into effective corporate strategies, focusing on teamwork, tactical decision-making, and the importance of a psychologically safe environment. 🧠

• The Role of Reflection and Adaptation in Leadership: Pete emphasizes the importance of reflecting on and adapting leadership styles to suit evolving challenges and opportunities in both sports and business. 🔄

We talk about:

• 00:00 Intro

• 03:02 How is rugby like business

• 06:45 Two things he brought from coaching elite athletes

• 13:07 Coaching at the International level and the stress

• 19:36 Spending time with the team psychologist and how it links to being a CEO

• 21:42 Diving into Carolyn's choice to not pursue coaching and if she could go back, would she make the same choices

• 25:52 Peter's history playing rugby

• 28:17 What is the concept of leadership shock

• 31:10 What do leaders need to make explicit - being intentional

• 41:50 Knowing who you are

• 44:47 Rapid fire questions

🌈 Closing Thoughts:

This episode with Pete Steinberg offers deepens our understanding of leadership, providing a framework for leaders to foster environments that value strategic thinking, resilience, and adaptability. Pete's transition from a rugby coach to a leadership expert demonstrates the profound impact that a well-rounded leadership philosophy can have on personal and organizational success.

We encourage listeners to think about how the principles discussed can be applied in their own leadership contexts, enhancing both personal and team performance.

#LeadershipDevelopment #SportsLeadership #CorporateLeadership #TeamDynamics #StrategicThinking

Connect with Pete

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070364743951

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-steinberg/

• https://www.petesteinberg.com/

• https://www.innovative-thought.com/

• https://www.petesteinberg.com/book

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Steinberg

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