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In Episode 345 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome back a longtime friend of The Coaches Site and the Founder of the Changing the Game Project, John O'Sullivan.

After spending more than two decades as a player and coach in the soccer world, O'Sullivan launched the Changing the Game Project in 2012 with a mission to transform the youth sports experience for athletes, coaches, and parents. He is also the author of three #1 bestselling books, and his work has been featured by CNN, Outside Magazine, ESPN, and NBC Sports.

He just released his fourth book Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader. The book serves as a practical guide for athletes looking to develop the habits, mindset, and skills that will help them become effective leaders both on and off the field.

O'Sullivan is also a familiar face within The Coaches Site community. At TCS Live 2024, he delivered a powerful keynote presentation on taking your coaching from transactional to transformational, challenging coaches to focus not just on performance, but on the lasting impact they have on the people they lead.

You can check it out now on The Coaches Site.

Listen as he shares his thoughts on developing leadership skills, navigating the challenges that can arise within a locker room, and why making people feel seen, valued, and understood can have such a powerful impact on team culture.

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Book inspiration
• 3:10 Modeling leadership
• 6:25 Leadership is a decision
• 9:20 Making tough decisions
• 15:30 Self-awareness
• 18:00 Petting the dragon
• 20:10 Supporting players through tough situations
• 24:30 Making people feel seen
• 29:40 Designing for leadership habits
• 33:50 Coaches create the environment
• 36:55 Seeking attention
• 40:10 Creating a level playing field
• 43:10 Lessons from writing the book
• 45:20 Getting away from the game
• 48:40 Developing leaders at top levels
• 51:30 Dad’s influence
• 54:25 A guide for young leaders