The Growth Mindset

Chapter 5Coaching Advisors to Grow the Business

“Without a coach, people will never reach their maximum capabilities.”

—Bob Nardelli

You Can't Coach Desire

Bill Bowerman: “Nobody can coach desire, Pre,” the track coach at the University of Oregon said to Steve Prefontaine in the 1998 movie Without Limits, a great movie about what it takes to have heart. William Jay “Bill” Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co‐founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All‐Americans, 12 American record‐holders, 22 NCAA champions and 16 sub‐four‐minute milers. Leaders with a growth mindset invest in the growth of others. It's the best way to have an impact and leave a legacy. In the long run, no one will remember if you recruited three top producers or you grew your revenues by 30 percent. But people with whom you had a meaningful impact will remember you forever. That is how great leaders create more great leaders. They do this both informally, by setting an example that others want to emulate, and formally, by consciously and conscientiously investing time in developing the talents of the people they work with. But they understand that you can't coach desire. It's the biggest mistake I made as a manager in terms of coaching: trying to motivate the unmotivated. It's not the one who outright lets you know that he or she has no interest in growing or coaching or receiving help from you or anyone else. This advisor is being honest with the manager ...