The Heart of Coaching: A Conversation with Jan Stirling

There is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it. Jan Sterling on Holistic Coaching, Influential Leadership, and Gratitude On the Great Coaches podcast, Jan Sterling, General Manager of High Performance at Basketball Australia, discusses leading programs in Adelaide and Canberra, including the Centre of Excellence and the NBA Global Academy, and the challenge of extending athlete engagement ahead of the 2021 Olympics. She explains that great coaches surround themselves with people who complement their weaknesses, show authentic care for athletes, staff, and families, and focus on holistic development. Sterling defines coaching as making athletes more resilient for life while developing values such as passion, trustworthiness, accountability, and leaving an environment better than you found it. She reflects on building sustained success with the Adelaide Lightning through a unique, stimulating, high-demand program, adapting her style when coaching the Opals to manage elite expectations, and designing Port Adelaide’s leadership approach around influencing others amid organizational chaos. She describes legacy as fostering gratitude, including writing thank-you notes to supporters. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.