48. How to express your genius - with Myles Downey - leader performance coach & author

In this great episode I had the pleasure of chatting with Miles Downey, a top-notch c-suite leadership coach, author, and consultant. We delved into the fascinating world of coaching, exploring the similarities and differences between coaching leaders in business and coaching in sports.

One of my key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of self-reflection for leaders. Miles emphasised that taking the time to reflect on one's own actions, strengths, and areas for improvement is crucial for personal and professional growth. 

We also touched upon the lack of training for new managers, which is  the perennial problem. Miles shared his insights on this issue, highlighting the need for organisations to invest in proper training and support for new managers. After all, we can't expect them to hit the ground running without a bit of guidance?

Miles has quite the knack for helping people understand who they are as leaders, building up their willpower, and developing a mindset for success. And he's a firm believer in having an insatiable desire for learning. According to Miles, continuous learning is the key to staying ahead in this ever-evolving world of ours.

https://mylesdowney.com/myles-downey/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylesdowney/ 

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Introduction [00:00:05] The host introduces the Practical Leadership Podcast and welcomes Miles Downey as a guest.

Similarities and Differences between Coaching Leaders in Business and Coaches in Sports [00:01:38] The speakers discuss the similarities and differences between coaching leaders in business and coaching coaches in sports.

Importance of Self-Reflection for Leaders [00:05:39] The speakers discuss the importance of self-reflection for leaders and Miles Downey explains his process for helping leaders understand who they are.

Understanding Identity [00:08:18] Miles Downey shares a story about a client who had a profound realization about teaching and understanding that each person needs to be taught different things. Once you have clarity of identity, you can ask yourself what that looks like and develop strategies, tactics, and behaviors.

Enabling Genius [00:12:57] Miles Downey talks about his book, Enabling Genius, which is based on his experience of coaching people to use their own resources, imagination, and intelligence to make progress and gain confidence in themselves. He explains that the book is about understanding one's unique individual genius, which is the embodiment of one's potential.

Coaching on the Tennis Court [00:10:24] Miles Downey describes a program he runs where he takes people onto a tennis court and gives them principles about how people learn. He explains that coaching is not about teaching or instructing but about helping people learn for themselves. He emphasizes the importance of paying attention to people and putting in place a little bit of structure to help them learn.

Building Willpower [00:15:54] Miles Downey discusses the importance of building willpower and how it can be increased through multiple elements, such as clear goals and invoking personal identity.

Mindset for Success [00:16:46] Downey explains how building a mindset for success is crucial and can be developed through continuous learning and experimentation.

Importance of Learning [00:17:23] The speakers discuss the lack of training for new managers and the importance of learning as a skill that is not taught in traditional education systems. They also touch on the benefits of simple mental techniques, such as meditation, for improving clarity and focus.

The Importance of Self-Reflection [00:23:36] Miles Downey talks about the importance of clear, axiomatic, and useful information for everyday people and the need for self-reflection for leaders.

Thanking the Young Miles [00:24:03] Miles Downey talks about his past and how his naivety and innocence led him to where he is today.