Excellence Over Perfection with Adam Voges

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

Adam Voges discusses how Justin Langer’s first address as Western Australia coach showed the power of clear communication, aligning the group through a shared vision and the idea that players ultimately determine a coach’s success, so they must be brought along and empowered. Ben reinforces this as interdependence in team sport and leadership, likening it to CEOs needing buy-in. Adam describes his rapid transition from player to head coach in 2018, the challenges of shifting relationships, managing staff, and relying on mentors like Bob Muirhead and Justin. He explains revisiting team values with players and staff at Rottnest Island to define their “why” (family pride, representing WA, winning) and values (trust, humility, commitment). He contrasts perfection with striving for excellence, details feedback that improved his emotional control, and emphasizes using emotion objectively while empowering others to avoid burnout and help athletes become self-reliant across changing teams and coaches.

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Here are 3 self-reflective questions I took from the interview: •Where am I trying to do too much myself, instead of trusting and empowering the people around me? •Do the people I lead feel genuinely brought along on the journey, or am I asking them to follow decisions they had no part in shaping? •When pressure rises, do I become more helpful and clear — or do my emotions make the situation harder for others?

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