Steve Jobs, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt all had one thing in common.
- Rose Odette
- Aug 24
- 2 min read
Why Coaching is the Hidden Engine of Greatness
Introduction Bill Campbell, the “Coach of Silicon Valley,” was known for something rare: he cared about leaders as people first. There’s a famous story about him walking the halls with Steve Jobs at Apple, quietly reminding him to listen more deeply to his team. At Google, Eric Schmidt recalled how Campbell sat silently through a tense executive debate, only to lean in at the end and cut right to the heart of the issue with one question: “What’s best for the company?”
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That was his thread — every time, in every story. Whether it was Jobs, Page, or Schmidt telling it, the lesson was the same: coaching isn’t about answers, it’s about unlocking greatness in people.
Five Ideals from Bill Campbell’s Playbook for Steve Jobs
It’s Always About the People Campbell didn’t obsess over spreadsheets; he obsessed over people. Build trust, and the results follow.
Care Personally, Challenge Directly He mastered the balance of compassion and candor. Call-outs that lifted, not crushed.
Trust Is the True Currency He had no hidden agenda. Leaders knew: Bill was for them.
Leaders Need Coaching Too Jobs. Page. Schmidt. Giants — yet they all leaned on a coach. Because leverage beats lone genius.
Culture Over Strategy He knew culture drives execution. Coach leaders to set it, protect it, and live it.
Five Action Items for Today
Check In With One Person – Ask: “How are you, really?”
Give One Piece of Honest Feedback – Say it with care.
Show Up Consistently – Be the steady presence others rely on.
Separate Ego From Outcome – Focus on the bigger picture, not credit.
Find Your Own Coach – If Jobs needed one, why wouldn’t you?
Conclusion Bill Campbell’s gift wasn’t a strategy deck. It was presence, trust, and relentless belief in people. That’s the invisible thread connecting the greatest leaders of our time — and it’s a thread you can weave into your own leadership starting today.
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