A Great Idea from a CEO

By June 11, 2013 January 25th, 2017 Tips to Improve Performance

Last Updated on January 25, 2017 by Dave Schoenbeck

Here’s a quote from Eric Schmidt, former Chairman and CEO, Google:

“The advice that sticks out I got from John Doerr, who in 2001 said, my advice to you is to have a coach.  I initially resented the advice, because after all, I was a CEO.  I was pretty experienced.  Why would I need a coach?  Am I doing something wrong?  My argument was, how could a coach advise me if I’m the best person in the world at this?”

“But that’s not what a coach does.  The Coach doesn’t have to play the sport as well as you do.  They have to watch you and get you to be your best.  In the business context a coach is not a repetitious coach.  A coach is somebody who looks at something with another set of eyes, describes it to you in (his) words, and discusses how to approach the problem.”

“Once I realized I could trust him and that he could help me with perspective, I decided this was a great idea.”

How right you are Eric!

Dave Schoenbeck
Follow Dave