Translating Sports Team Principles to the Business World | Lloyd Fobi - E9

Hey friends! I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Lloyd Fobi, a senior technology leader and former soccer coach. Lloyd brings a wealth of insight on building empathy and trust within teams. We kick things off talking about Lloyd's leadership approach - caring for people while still holding them to high standards. He shares a story from his first week leading a new team, using engaging questions to break down assumptions and get to know them as human beings. The heart of our conversation explores how to practically build empathy on a daily basis. Lloyd stresses understanding each person's strengths so you can elevate them, not trying to change people to fit some predefined box. We also discuss the importance of selflessness and serving your team, whether through difficult conversations or even just taking support calls to understand people's day-to-day reality. Other gems Lloyd shares: looking for teammates based on how they treat each other rather than pure skill, the power of hope and trust emerging through shared hardship, and how to keep showing appreciation after the honeymoon phase ends. If you lead people, or simply want to lead with more empathy, don't miss this chat!

“Practicing empathy does more for the person giving than the person receiving, which is a strikingly interesting feeling to go through.” - Lloyd Fobi

Key Takeaways:
00:00:57 - Introduction and Background

• Una introduces Lloyd Fobi, highlighting his role as a strategic information technology leader and his background in soccer coaching and playing. Lloyd shares his perspective as a leader in the healthcare industry.

00:01:49 - Building Amazing Teams 

• Lloyd emphasizes the importance of empathy and caring in building an amazing team. He discusses the need to understand the human aspect, acknowledging both strengths and fallibility.

00:04:51 - Building Trust in a New Environment 

• Lloyd shares his approach to building trust in a new team environment, emphasizing the importance of resetting expectations and demonstrating humanity. He highlights the value of time and genuine trust in relationships.

00:09:48 - Identifying an Amazing Team 

• Lloyd discusses the transformation of his coaching philosophy, focusing on team interactions and the pure love of being together. He shares a personal experience of building an amazing team through changed recruiting methods and a shift in team dynamics.

00:14:29 - Creating Intensity in the Business World 

• Lloyd discusses the challenge of recreating the intensity of a sports environment in the business world due to different paces and open timelines. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and references the book "Legacy" by Steve Kerr.

00:16:46 - Selflessness and Team Success 

• Lloyd shares the key principles of the All Blacks, emphasizing selflessness, hard work, and bearing burdens for each other. He relates these principles to the business world, highlighting the importance of creating an environment where people are treated well.

00:18:22 - Motivation and Continuous Improvement 

• Lloyd reflects on his evolving motivations, from wanting to be great to affecting the world in a meaningful way. He emphasizes the importance of continuous self-improvement and appreciating each other to maintain a message of growth and improvement.

00:22:13 - Managing Weaknesses and Leveraging Strengths 

• Lloyd discusses the importance of understanding individuals' strengths and weaknesses in a team environment. He shares examples of players who may not excel on the field but bring tremendous value off the field, emphasizing the coach's role in utilizing their strengths.

00:27:27 - The Power of Empathy and Giving 

• Lloyd and Una reflect on the underlying theme of empathy thro