Today’s guest shares his journey into “fixer” coaching, which later developed into ICF-style curiosity-based coaching. This switch transformed his approach and the performance of Team USA’s Olympic swim coaches as he prepares them for the highest levels of international competition. Our conversation moves from the mechanics of high performance under pressure to the vulnerability of unlearning the “I know what you don’t know” mentality. We land on a message every coach, sports or otherwise, needs to hear: knowing yourself is the prerequisite to building a high-performing team around you. This is a rich conversation about ego, identity, and staying curious, even when you are the most accomplished person in the room. Join us!

Brendan Hansen is a six-time USA Olympic medalist and 2008 gold medalist in Beijing. This highly decorated competitive swimmer has transitioned into a new career as an executive/leadership coach. Since retiring from competitive swimming at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Brendan has worked with startups, long-standing businesses, and nonprofit organizations. He currently serves as Director of the National Junior Team at USA Swimming, developing the pipeline of athletes and coaches to compete in the 2028 and 2032 Olympics.

Show Highlights:

• Brendan’s journey: from being a competitive swimmer with Olympic gold medal success to a leadership coach
• Brendan’s biggest lesson learned from his journey: “Being comfortable is the worst drug on the planet.”
• “Coaching” in the swimming world is very different from what Brendan does today because he was accustomed to being the “fixer.” (Let go of your “fixer” mindset!)
• Shifting to a mindset that says, “I don’t have to know the answer.”
• The #1 question Brendan gets asked: “How do I create an environment for a high-performing team?”
• The key to creating a high-performing team is knowing who YOU are as a coach.
• Want to challenge yourself as a coach? Keep showing up in the spaces where you are NOT an expert.
• What’s next for Brendan?
• The power of the word WAIT (“Why Am I Talking?”)
• The value in keeping a curious mindset

Resources:

Connect with Brendan Hansen: Website

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