Would a coach ever send a sick player onto the pitch? Never. So why do we do it at work every single week? Rich Turner nearly got kicked out of school. Sport saved him, the gym floor taught him that every PT is half personal trainer, half personal therapist, and a fascination with why people do what they do turned him into an executive coach. At 36 he's younger than most people in his field, and he thinks that's exactly why leaders keep hiring him: he coaches from human performance, not from the corporate playbook. His first lesson from elite sport is the one business keeps ignoring. Athletes obsess over recovery because if they're not on the field, they can't perform. Corporate life just goes go go, nine to eight, week after week. Ken owns up to the 80-hour weeks. Rich's verdict: sprint when the moment calls for it, but nobody can sprint every week. Then Rich walks Ken and Debra through his Leadership Playbook, six pillars that start with knowing who you are (Ken sets him a 30-second challenge, and he doesn't make it). You'll hear why leading and managing are only two-thirds of being the person in charge, why nobody likes being told what to do, why you can't play a round of golf with just a putter, and why Rich thinks we've all become way too serious at work. Ken explains how office banter helped convince him and Debra to stay in the UK, and Debra has the HR warning ready, complete with the great chocolate Easter egg debate. You'll leave with two ideas Rich says are really one: create clarity in everything, and stay fascinated with why people are the way they are. Rich Turner is an executive coach and founder of LP Revolution, a former personal trainer with a degree in sports science and coaching, and a high-level field hockey player. He's currently offering a free coaching session on one of the Leadership Playbook topics. Find him on LinkedIn (Rich Turner) or email richard@lprevolution.co.uk. KEYWORDS Rich Turner, LP Revolution, Leadership Playbook, executive coaching, performance coaching, recovery and performance, burnout, wellbeing at work, lessons from sport, elite sport and business, managing pressure, high-performing teams, self-awareness, authentic leadership, personal values, leadership styles, coaching leadership style, ownership and accountability, communication skills, understanding your people, psychological safety, fun at work, workplace banter, clarity, curiosity, learning mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:52 Welcome, meet Rich Turner 02:22 From nearly kicked out of school to sports science 04:54 Personal trainer, personal therapist 06:15 From wellbeing company to executive coach 08:42 A 36-year-old coach with a non-corporate background 09:44 Cricket, hockey and a beer at Lord's 10:57 Lesson 1 from sport: you can't perform without recovery 12:26 The New York Yankees question 14:04 Lessons 2 and 3: managing pressure and teamwork 15:17 Effort in moments, not constantly 17:06 The Leadership Playbook, born in a coaching session 17:49 The six pillars 19:34 Pillar 1: Who we are, and the 30-second challenge 21:35 Ken: who I am keeps changing 22:53 What you do vs who you are: values and fit 24:13 How we lead (and the opposite of a bad boss) 25:29 Lead, manage, coach: different clubs in the bag 26:51 Nobody likes being told what to do 28:00 Communication: connection and clarity 28:21 People are way too serious at work 30:21 Office banter and why Ken and Debra stayed in the UK 31:41 Psychological safety makes the fun possible 33:03 Fun at the right time: the Easter egg debate 33:59 One thing to do differently 35:05 Create clarity: goals, communication, assumptions 36:10 Be fascinated with why people do what they do 36:59 Curiosity is never finished 37:58 Kids at the "why" stage 38:27 Learning leadership day by day 39:41 Where does a young coach get credibility? 40:54 Where to find Rich
