Coaching for Performance & Productivity in Pro Sports

Where academia, industry & research meet the realities of team performance

Over the next few months, leaders across the pro sports industry are levelling up how they lead and manage—moving from command-and-control to enabling leadership that helps teams thrive. That’s the heart of our Coaching for Performance & Productivity (CPP) accelerator, now in its third year with Pro Sports Assembly.

CPP is a hybrid programme: five dynamic live sessions supported by on-demand video and podcast. It’s built around a proven, practice-first approach so busy leaders can improve performance without diary overload. You’ll see the change in the work—not just in the classroom.

Why now

Operating models have shifted. Expectations have changed. Standards are higher, scrutiny is sharper, and bandwidth is tight. In that environment, the most reliable lever of transformation is coaching—done professionally, at pace, and anchored to outcomes.

The LMC model: Lead → Manage → Coach → Relate 

At the centre of CPP is the Lead–Manage–Coach (LMC) model. Participants learn to:

• Lead with clarity (direction, guardrails, standards, and priorities).

• Manage for flow (routines, reviews, and fast feedback).

• Coach for capability (skills, judgement, and ownership).

• Relate for relationships (trust and meaningful conversations).  

This isn’t abstract theory. We build durable habits using SPRINTS, role-plays, and short feedback loops that you can run with your team the same week.

What you’ll practise and apply

• Apply LMC in 1:1s and team routines to drive performance.

• Use GROW and advanced coaching skills—including an appropriate directive dimension—to unblock progress without creating dependency.

• Redesign performance management to reduce interference, strengthen critical thinking, and enable peak performance.

• Establish clear team guardrails, maintain quality standards, and support wellbeing during change.

• Build capability at pace: prioritise up-skilling, align goals/metrics/incentives, and turn strategy into sustained execution.

Format & logistics (hybrid, practical, doable)

• Five live sessions with SPRINTS, 1:1 practice, and group plenaries to embed learning and share insight.

• On-demand video and podcast so you can keep momentum between sessions.

• Designed for senior managers, directors and high-potentials who lead people or client stakeholders—ideal for leaders in professional sports (business side), legal, management consulting, finance, sales/BD, and executive search.

Recognition & credit

• The course is recognised by SHRM/ATD for professional credit (via Pro Sports Assembly recognition).

• Participants receive a Pro Sports Assembly certificate of completion with an option for professional credit. (Exact crediting follows PSA’s process.)

This is our third year leading the cohort. A note shared by the Pro Sports Assembly President sums up the impact:

“Professor John Grisby, I was catching up with a club CEO today and shared how much I appreciate your LMC model. Practising it has been so meaningful to me over the last 2 years. Thank you for bringing it to life and bringing it to PRO.” ProSports CEO  Laura Dixon

CPP is highly subscribed by Pro Sports Assembly members because it helps leaders do the hard thing—raise performance and productivity—in ways that stick.

If you’re a Pro Sports Assembly member and this is the right season to raise the bar on performance and productivity, join the next cohort here:

More about Pro Sports Assembly: https://www.prosportsassembly.org/

More about Coaching for Performance & Productivity: https://www.greymatterglobaltd.com/leader-coaching-performance-learning-accelerator-preview