Former Manchester United worker shares business advice on leadership
Dave Callan, founder of ONTO Coaching (Image: Newsquest)
A performance coach urged business leaders to look inward to improve team leadership.
Dave Callan, founder of ONTO Coaching, shared his insights at the York Business Festival hosted by The Press, emphasising the significance of self-awareness in leadership.
With a career spent working with elite performers, major sports organisations, and global businesses, Mr Callan spoke about the importance of recognising personal behaviour patterns.
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He highlighted how these patterns, particularly under pressure, can affect those around them.
Mr Callan, who has coached high performers extensively, began his keynote by urging delegates to consider their reactions under stress.
He suggested that leadership encompasses more than decision-making or strategy-setting; it involves understanding the daily influences of behaviours and unconscious patterns.
Dave Callan, who worked for Manchester United and Team Sky. (Image: Ministry of Works)
Using examples from high-performance environments and his own endurance sport experiences, Mr Callan discussed people's varied responses to difficult situations.
He pointed out that stress and pressure often bring out ingrained behaviours, such as defensiveness, blame-shifting, challenge avoidance, or a need to control every outcome.
A key takeaway from the presentation was the need to scrutinise behaviour to grasp its underlying causes.
Mr Callan used the phrase "clarity before comfort" to underline the importance of acknowledging personal habits and reactions, even when uncomfortable.
He encouraged business leaders to pause and reflect before reacting instinctively, arguing that understanding internal processes can lead to better judgement and stronger relationships.
He advised leaders to consider their contribution to a situation and the effect their actions could have on others, rather than focusing solely on external circumstances.
The session struck a chord with business owners and managers at the festival, many of whom navigate their teams through growth and change.
Mr Callan stressed that effective leadership should not merely be about directing people or hitting targets.
Instead, he described it as a journey towards self-awareness and understanding how personal behaviours can shape team performance and organisational culture.
Reflecting on his experience with organisations like Manchester United, Team Sky, and Travel Counsellors, he noted that sustained growth often begins when individuals challenge limiting beliefs and commit to personal development.
His main message to delegates was simple: leaders must first understand their own internal workings before they can unlock the potential of others.