Cody Royle - 'A second set of eyes'

In this episode of "In the Arena," coach and author Cody Royle explores what might be the greatest irony in leadership: those of us who believe deeply in coaching often refuse to be coached ourselves.

Having spent decades in leadership positions, I've experienced firsthand that moment when "the weight of responsibility sits heavy on your chest before your feet even touch the floor." It's the silent experience of leaders everywhere, and it reveals our profound contradiction.

Cody shares the deeply personal origins of his powerful book "Tough Stuff" – born from his own pain after losing a player to suicide and finding no resources to help navigate that trauma as a leader. "I went looking for things that could help me with that and found nothing," he told me.

Our conversation challenges the mythology we've constructed around leadership that equates self-sufficiency with strength. The true courage isn't found in going it alone—it's found in the vulnerability of acknowledging we don't have all the answers.

As Cody wisely notes, "Leadership is an exchange of humanity... it's supposed to be connective and it's supposed to be a shared weight." Join us as we explore why having "A Second Set of Eyes" isn't merely support – it's an acknowledgment that our job isn't to have all the answers but to create spaces where better questions can flourish.

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