How Coby Dillard Thinks About Leadership Lessons from Soccer and Other Unlikely Places

How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange

On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Coby Dillard, Director of Military and Veteran Affairs at the University of Texas at Tyler, for an insightful conversation on dynamic and empathetic leadership. In this engaging episode, they delve into the crossover between soccer passion and leadership styles, the impact of non-traditional experiences on leadership, and the importance of acknowledging both successes and mistakes. Coby shares his views on hiring practices that foster diversity and community fit, and the significance of developing talent within teams. They also discuss the parallels between sports coaching and organizational management, emphasizing the need for adaptability and merit-based team selections.

Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Coby Dillard Resources:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwdillard/
Website: https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/success-services/military-veterans-success-center/

#Leadership #VeteransAffairs #EmpathyInLeadership #SoccerAndLeadership #TalentDevelopment

• (00:00) - Director supports student veterans; pursuing a PhD.
• (05:46) - US Soccer re-hired Berhalter, sparking investigation debate.
• (06:41) - Familiarity with Greg outweighs unknown leadership risks.
• (10:58) - Serve diverse needs across multiple family members.
• (15:19) - Boundaries limit roster, adapting tactics, leadership insights.
• (17:31) - Embrace change for growth and development opportunities.
• (19:43) - Spain needs balance between talent and experience.
• (22:49) - Best fit for job over biggest profile.
• (27:44) - Leaders often forget their own starting journeys.
• (31:56) - Leaders' authenticity trumps authority; mistakes are growth.
• (33:33) - First step for leaders: Lead like a coach.
• (36:13) - Unconventional experiences enhance communication and leadership skills.
• (39:26) - Thank you for listening, please review and share.