Business Development – Exclusive Interview With Brian Wood
- Aug 12, 2022
- 4 min read
Brian Wood combines 30 years of corporate experience with his background as an athlete, certified player agent (NBA, WNBA, and FIBA) and a certified professional success coach to provide clients with unique perspective and guidance toward the next level of achievement. Wood is passionate about continuous personal and professional growth including organizational development, training, and gamification. He is enthusiastic about helping leaders leverage their gifts to drive impact and success. Wood supports major corporations, professional sports organizations, and municipalities. He provides confidential, professional, and executive coaching, speaking engagements, virtual and in-person facilitation.
Brian Wood, Success Coach, Speaker and Facilitator
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
My name is Brian Wood, and it seems as though I’ve always been fascinated with the experience of life, exploring – and “squeezing in” as much as possible. This includes a passion for travel, adventure, competition, learning, teaching, and most things on the road less traveled.
Other “wins” for me include hanging with my family, coffee (there’s always room for one more cup), and dogs!
Originally from NJ, but several relocations across the country during my corporate life.
I also show up with extreme gratitude thanks to my parents, the values they passed on, and the enormous sacrifices they made to ensure happiness for my sisters and me. Although I will never be able to repay them for the inspiration and unconditional love I received, I’ll never stop trying to honor them by doing good work, paying it forward and getting into good trouble.
What is your work inspired by?
Like most, I’ve experienced transformational leadership and leadership that was less than inspiring.
I’ve also experienced highs and lows as an athlete.
Your title, statistics, annual performance review and other variables can shape your identity as an athlete or leader in the real world. Consequently, this potentially inaccurate identity can motivate you to chase the wrong stuff! Since the experience of life and positively influencing others is a value for me, I’m inspired by the enormous potential for team members and organizations. I’m inspired by our future versions, which includes excitement regarding Monday morning possibilities – not the feeling of despair, physical sickness and stress surrounding a “Groundhog Day” (shout out to Bill Murray) existence. I’m inspired by what we are destined to become, the ripple effect we’re designed to create and the unleashing of individual and organizational greatness that might have been underestimated or overlooked.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
I spent a good chunk of my life working in the corporate space, which gave me tremendous opportunities, relationships, and perspectives. Much of my current world is still connected to corporations, but now it’s more energizing and less transactional.
So, the greatest achievement was having the courage to pursue my passion and “walk the talk” as opposed to playing it safe. Although I’ve preached “go big, change lives, drive impact and bet on yourself” to my kids for decades, they observed my behavior contradicting my words.
Even an occasional “face plant” while failing forward is better than safely staying on the sidelines - frozen with the fear of messing up.
Reminds me of the quote:
"There is freedom waiting for you on the breezes of the sky. And you ask 'what if I fall? ' Oh, but by darling, what if you fly?" ‒ Erin Hanson
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
Thankfully the death by PowerPoint approach with training has run its course! While most people recognize this reality, we still need an increased level of awareness and a renewed strategy for leaders – embracing creativity, gamification, and innovation throughout the learning experience.
Some organizations resist external resources when hunting for optimal performance and developing leaders.
Organizations fight their fight alone and often have the misconception that they need to figure “stuff” out on their own. Perhaps this is ego getting in the way.
We are surrounded by opportunities to lead, learn, and train differently and creatively for sustainable results.
Exhibit A:
We’ve got 80 micro learning classes associated with leadership development, and all can be delivered virtually in a live and interactive environment. Additionally, each course can be delivered in person with resources including a team of facilitators, certified coaches, gamification tools and our Learning Management System.
The wish list for change is that leaders who make decisions about training and development continue to explore creative solutions. “That’s the way we’ve always done it” – won’t get the job done.
Same for those creating and delivering content. We’ve got to push harder, use more imagination, and deliver better results that connect with all personalities and industries – ultimately changing the game.
Leadership development and organizational development can change drive culture, which has a direct application to business results and the quality of life for team members.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
When “stuff” happens, a gift is usually born. Sometimes that gift may be hidden and require more effort to reveal. In my case, a 2015 demotion resulted in frustration and bitterness. Shortly after my demotion I participated on a conference call, and someone chimed in with “We’ve got to coach our employees.” Although my reaction came from a dark place (“I’ll show you – I’ll become a professional coach – you’ll be sorry!”) the outcome was better than expected. During the process of becoming a certified professional coach, it was obvious that it’s never about others and the circumstances – but it is always about me and my reaction. The journey of driving as much positive impact through professional coaching, training, and organizational development had begun. I’m forever grateful for the demotion that shifted my trajectory and aligned it with the things I’m most passionate about.
It’s not a “nice thing” to generate a positive impact, it’s our responsibility, an obligation and something that creates gratitude within each of us.
