Ken Troupe - My Career Coaching Philosophy
By Ken Troupe
Throughout my career I have always considered myself an “advice guy”, but I never really understood how this impacted my leadership style. The importance of coaching and how it helps you become a better leader really clicked into place after an Ohio University leadership class. One concept that really resonated with me was the theory of servant leadership.
There are various definitions of servant leadership, but basically it comes down to the idea that a servant leaders primary focus is on growth and well-being of the people and the communities to which they belong. I define servant leadership as someone who’s only job is to make their staff better and I feel the best leaders in the sports and entertainment business have this mindset.
As I transition from an “advice guy” into a true career coach and I partner to launch SportsBiz Builders, the following will give you some insight on my coaching philosophy.
Below are my answers to five key questions on my coaching approach
What is my motivation for coaching?
I am motivated to become a coach because I enjoy serving as a mentor and giving back to the next generation of #SportsBiz professionals. In 1993 I was an intern with an MLB team and compiled a research paper on what kids like and don’t like about baseball and presented my findings to the VP of Marketing. Short story, the VP threw my report in the trash and told me, “it would not show him anything he did not know”. From that point moving forward I told myself I would always give my time to anyone who wanted my advice. While this experience influenced me, seeing kids I have given advice to find success is what truly motivates me today.
What type of coach do I want to be?
As a coach I plan on taking the same approach I do a professor and plan on giving our clients a true understanding of what it takes to be successful in the sports and entertainment industry. I consider myself to be a planner and goal setter and want to help our clients understand the importance of both. Networking is such an important component to finding success and I plan on helping our client develop their strategic networking roadmap.
Throughout my career I have always worked best when I am collaborating with bosses, co-workers, and my network to achieve company objectives. As a result, one of our primary offerings will be a Collective Career Coaching Cohorts where our clients will learn in a group setting. I feel that this group coaching approach will resonate well with our clients as they learn and develop a plan to rebuild or refine their career with a group of their peers that are going through the same thing.
Why is coaching the right fit for me?
I am excited to launch the next chapter of my career as a sports and entertainment business focused coach because I have a wealth of real-life experiences to lean on. I feel like I have had both successes and failures and have learned from both. Looking back at the missteps in my career and how they could have been avoided if I had someone advising and helping me with the development of a personalized career growth strategy.
What is it that I would like to achieve with my clients?
One of our main goals with SportsBiz Builders is to develop a network of the next generation of #SportsBiz professionals that we can watch flourish over the next several years. It is my hope that we not only help our clients get back into the #SportsBiz, but also become well rounder leaders that can help the sports industry to reach new heights.
What will I achieve for myself?
I got into the #SportsBiz back in the day because I loved baseball and wanted to teach people how to love baseball like I do. Today, this desire has only changed slightly. I love sports and want to teach people to love sports like me. I want all of our clients who complete any of our SportsBiz Coaching offerings to adapt this philosophy and work every day to make the #SportsBiz better and understand how to build new fans.
Have a great day and please let me know if you have any questions about my coaching philosophy.