Coaching Is The #1 Thing
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
Google, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix - they all now say the #1 thing they look for in leaders is that they're a good coach. Parenting IS coaching.
Marty Cagan observes a shift at top companies: 'Sundar at Google has been saying that the number one thing they look for in their leaders is a good coach.'
These companies spent decades figuring out what makes leaders effective. Not strategy. Not expertise. Not charisma. Coaching.
Parenting IS coaching. You're not managing your child - you're developing them. The goal isn't compliance. It's competence.
A coach doesn't do the work for the athlete. A coach helps the athlete get better. Asks questions rather than giving answers. Builds capability rather than dependence.
'At Microsoft, they have three principles for their leaders. Number one, coaching. Number two, caring.'
If the best companies in the world have concluded that coaching is THE skill that matters in leadership... maybe we should take that seriously at home too.
Less directing. More developing. Less 'do this because I said so.' More 'what do you think you should do?'
(And yes, sometimes you just need them to put on their shoes and get in the car. Coaching has its limits.)
PM Theme: Leadership / people development
Parenting Theme: Coaching children rather than controlling them
“Sundar at Google has been saying that the number one thing they look for in their leaders is a good coach. The number two thing is that they're not a micromanager and they know how to empower their teams.”Marty Cagan · 47:22
“At Microsoft, they have three principles for their leaders, they're managers that they've been advertising. Number one, coaching. Number two, caring.”Marty Cagan · 47:22
