No, not a coach to have taught Hitler to paint better, though I do believe if he’d had one to show him how to paint houses better, he would have been the richest house painter in Austria, and the world would have missed the dastardly deeds of a despicable despot!
As I heard about the coaching conclave being organized by the International Coaching Federation, my mind moved to a big if. What if! Yes, ‘what if’, what if world leaders had a personal coach who would guide them in their decisions, administration and their journey through politics?
All world sports have coaches. Our Indian cricket team’s success very often is attributed to a coach, then why not have coaches for politicians?
Let’s imagine Hitler had a coach. After his Heil Hitler and salute, the coach finds that today Hitler wants to get rid of him quickly, “You got something urgent to do Adolph?” asks the coach gently.
“Ich bin beschäftigt,“ says Hitler gruffly.
“I know you are busy!“ says his coach, “But what are you busy about?“
“I’m going to build concentration camps,“ says Hitler, “Huge ones to kill Jews!“
“Adolph!“ says the coach, “What is your strength? What do we see all over Germany? That you have become the undisputed ruler of the people right? You are a born leader!“
“That is true!“ says Hitler saluting an image of himself in a mirror. “I have convinced our people we are a superior race, but these Jews are a hindrance, so I will kill them!“
“What would a true leader do?“ asks the coach, “He would treat this as another goal to be achieved and instead of killing them, convince them that they are also superior!“
“They are not superior!“ says Hitler.
“Your goal Adolph,“ is to make them follow you as a leader and the best way to achieve that goal is to make them feel good about themselves! So engage with them, build a rapport with them, and what a leader you will be!“
Well Hitler didn’t have a coach and people hesitate today to even name their dogs after him!
But we learn from history, don’t we, and maybe it’s time political leaders fire their retinue of astrologers, soothsayers, and poll analysts and simply employ a life coach, who will not just get them to where they want to reach, but be able to reserve them a place in history, for what they became and do.
What about you? We are all leaders in our different fields, or working to become one, why not employ a professional who will understand our strengths and weaknesses, with whom we feel safe, and allow that coach to analyse you, your situations, look at possibilities from a birds eye view, and help you achieve it?
My best wishes to the ICF conclave and may more of our country use you. Like I said, if Hitler had one, and millions died, all for the want of a coach..!
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