Russell Earnshaw
A 360 Deep Dive, Exclusive Interview
 

“Russell, you have an extraordinary, highly respected, career. How have your experiences in sports influenced your approach to coaching and leadership?”

​

Firstly, my definition of coaching is helping people help themselves. Two key components are ownership and kindness. Ownership as you ultimately must take responsibility for your own development, and kindness as an environment that catches you when you fall will allow for creativity and resilience by community. 

​

Everything begins with self-awareness. When people are frustrated, I might ask 'What did you learn about yourself?' This helps them reflect and grow. In sport, growth through practice is constant. Self-awareness, practice, and owning your development are critical to move to the next level.

​

Another question I’ll often ask is, 'What’s your coaching challenge today? How are you trying to get better?' If someone doesn’t know, I help them figure it out. My role is to provide the biggest impact with the most practical advice. 

​

My approach is very individualised. Not everyone needs the same lessons; some need different challenges. It has to be meaningful and relatable. And I tend to make it playful. Challenging conversations can feel invasive, but a playful approach often encourages engagement and helps to get the best out of people.

 

Can you expand on those challenging conversations? What is the common theme that makes us so reluctant to have them and how do we approach them?

​

A lot of it comes down to your sense of worth. We do a lot of work on a few key things, and one major area is status – how I see my worth versus your worth – and maintaining an adult-to-adult conversation. For instance, I had an experience at Heathrow where my car was an hour and a half late. I was furious, but the driver stayed calm and apologetic. His adult response defused my anger. It was a good lesson for me!

​

Another critical element is a statement of intent. Often, people share information without explaining why it’s important.  Someone may  start with, 'I need to share this with you because I love you and it’s crucial we agree a way forward.’' It sets the stage for a more productive conversation.

​

Listening is another big one. People often get seduced by words and miss the underlying messages. 

Empathy is a common theme among those who avoid challenging conversations. They don’t want to upset others. I believe 'clear is kind.' Not addressing issues is actually unkind and this reframe often helps people.

Ultimately, aiming to make these interactions less about confrontation and more about growth. People are usually relieved after these conversations because they clear up misunderstandings and set the stage for better communication and performance.

 

You work in many environments. How do you adapt your coaching strategies to fit different environments, such as GB hockey or Google?

​

I see everyone as an individual and my job is to figure out how to get the best out of each person, whether they're athletes or business leaders.

​

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. I might start with an activity and then ask, 'What does this mean to you? What’s the one thing you’re going to do as a result?' I might encourage people to set mild, medium, or spicy challenges for themselves.

​

There’s always a tension between wants and needs. Organisations often tell me what they want, but when I arrive I might find they’re not ready for it or what they need is not what they think they want.

​

It's about understanding motivation and readiness for change. How much success does this person want? Do we need early wins to build confidence? 

​

It’s about spending time with people in their environment and understanding what they actually do versus what they say they do. I ask questions like, 'What’s the last skill you added? What skill are you working on now? What’s the skill that will take you to the next level?' It’s about building awareness and then taking practical steps to improve.

​

As I said before, everything starts with awareness. You might think you need to improve a certain skill, but it’s not helpful to just sit in a classroom and talk about it. You need to get out there and practice.

​

​

 

 

 

 

What are your non-negotiable daily habits that keep you going & keep you grounded?

 

First off, I do Wordle every morning. It’s a great way to kickstart my brain and focus on a simple, yet engaging task. It’s like a mental warm-up that sets the tone for the day.

​

Next, I do a HIIT session with friends online every day. It fits perfectly with my morning routine and keeps my energy levels high. Physical fitness and human connection are crucial, and these sessions are a non-negotiable part of my day.

​

Lastly, I make sure to have meaningful interactions with my family early in the day. Whether it’s offering my daughter a lift to school or having a good chat with my wife, these moments are essential. They ground me and set a positive tone. For example, those seven minutes in the car with my daughter, sitting side-by-side singing a song or just talking, are invaluable.

​

Even though I travel a lot, I prioritise being at home whenever I can. This week, for instance, I travelled to London and back on consecutive days just to spend the night at home. Being home is special. During lockdown, we had dinner together every night and did loads of fun activities. It made our home feel amazing.

​

I also have a routine on Fridays where I send five thank-you messages to people who’ve positively impacted my life that week. It’s a procedure I stick to religiously because my schedule is hectic, and it helps me stay connected and grateful.

 

And how do you balance the intensity of work with your personal life?

 

Balance is key, and for me, it’s about integrating activities that recharge me. I’m a big fan of music, and I regularly hit the Lido in Bristol for a swim. There’s something incredibly refreshing about being in the water. I also see a cranial osteopath, which helps keep me physically aligned and feeling good.

​

Skiing is another passion of mine – I managed to ski four times last year, which is my ultimate mindfulness activity. Plus, I travel to New Zealand three times a year. Mount Maunganui is my favourite spot on the planet; I feel completely rested when I’m there. These trips are booked well in advance, like our annual family getaway to Cornwall every December. St. Ives is a favourite.

​

It’s also about finding joy in the little things. I’m obsessed with listening to Taylor Swift and dancing with my daughter, who’s now 14. We didn’t manage to get tickets to her concert, but we did see Take That, which was fantastic.

​

I’m diligent about my routines. I get up early, around 4 or 5 AM, to do my best work. Those early hours are golden – two hours of focused work then is like six hours later in the day. I think a lot about where I do my best thinking. Cal Newport’s concept of 'slow productivity' from his book Deep Work resonates with me. It’s essential to step off the hamster wheel and reflect.

​

Walking is another big one. I often take calls while walking or driving. I find movement helps clear my head and keeps the energy flowing. I never take calls sitting down at home – I’m always on the move.

Experimentation is crucial too. Every month, I try something new, whether it’s doing 100 press-ups a day, giving up coffee, or doing a 72-hour fast. I think of it as exercising the delayed gratification muscle. These challenges keep me engaged and constantly learning about what works best for me.

​

Finding balance isn’t just about managing time; it’s about integrating activities that recharge and inspire me. It’s a continuous process of experimentation and reflection, making sure I’m at my best both personally and professionally.

 

What can your audience expect from you on stage? 

 

I'm a good storyteller. My style is quite playful. I believe it’s essential to help people translate what they hear into their own world. It’s not enough to just listen to a talk and leave without anything changing. I remember watching someone with a big profile, deliver a talk in Bristol to about 150 coaches. Afterwards, I randomly asked eight of them what they took away that would help them. The response was, 'It was good fun, Rusty.' And I thought, well, that's cool, but it needs to be more than just fun.

​

So, I focus on making sure that my audience can take what they’ve heard and apply it practically. I think I'm pretty good at that – helping people see how it fits into their own context.

​

I’m a generalist, so I understand how different pieces of the puzzle fit together. My key themes include coaching, leadership, creativity, and teamwork and I’m always adding skills and tactics to the puzzle. For example, I recently heard Sarina Wiegman has these brilliant four questions for any team: Why are we here? Who are we? How will we play? How will we win? I added them to my puzzle. These simple questions can transform how teams think and perform.

​

I also work a lot with Google on creativity and leadership, and I delve into topics like working with Gen Z. Honestly, I’m up for tackling any subject I can get my hands on. My aim is always to make the talk relevant and actionable for everyone in the room.

 

Next Steps...

​To book Russell for your next event, contact us through the link below and we’ll get to work for you. Russell's engaging talks and workshops focus on leadership, coaching, and team dynamics, offering actionable insights tailored to your audience. Expect extraordinary results from a speaker operating at the top of his game. ​