The Commanding Captain

FOR THE COMMANDING CAPTAIN @ WORK OPPORTUNITY FOR COACHING Victor is at a crossroads because the very strengths that make him effective in crisis—decisiveness, personal accountability, and relentless drive to deliver—are beginning to push both him and his team toward exhaustion. His instinct is to carry the load himself and pull others across the finish line when standards or urgency demand it. Over time, this has created a pattern where too much depends on his personal effort and too little on the capability and judgment of those around him. Without adjustment, the risk is burnout for Victor and disengagement for the team. Coaching will help him strengthen trust in others, distribute responsibility more deliberately, and shift from commanding outcomes to building a team capable of delivering them without being driven to the edge. The goal is not to reduce his standards, but to ensure the way they are achieved sustains both performance and people. Victor: “I need to stop carrying everything myself. My goal is to build the trust and discipline in the team so I’m not driving people into the ground just to get the result.” SET THE COURSE - Clarify intent and priorities so others can lead parts of the mission without waiting for Victor to carry every decision. Actively invite counsel from trusted peers and senior leaders to pressure-test direction and share the burden of shaping the path forward. GUARD THE HOUSE - Protect the sustainability of both people and performance by setting limits on pace, workload, and risk. Seek trusted advisors who will challenge his instincts when pressure rises, helping him balance mission urgency with the long-term health of the team. MAKE IT WORK - Strengthen execution by distributing responsibility more deliberately—naming owners, building decision confidence in others, and asking for support when complexity rises. Position himself within a network of capable leaders so delivery becomes a shared effort rather than something he must personally drive to the finish line. C H A L L E N G E S A N D O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O B E B E T T E R CODE NAME: Victor Better The Deck REFER TO COACHING ROUND ONE INSTRUCTIONS