Kevin Nicholson ~ Football consultant & coach

A really energising and positive conversation with Kevin Nicholson, who has spent most of his life in the world of football, initially as a player and now as a consultant and coach. Currently he works for Double Pass, helping clubs and players optimise their talent.

Kevin steamed through the UEFA coaching badges to the top (Pro Licence), which he talks about. He is the youngest-ever English UEFA Pro Licence & FA Elite Coaching Award graduate, plus over 15 years of professional experience. Kevin talks about the importance of both qualifications and experiences -- you need both. He is obviously passionate about what he does and has clear purpose in helping others achieve success as a modern coach and consultant. Kevin's openness, thirst for learning and connecting with others come across as some of his many strengths.

As ever with these Positive Encourager chats, we get into the nuts and bolts, with plenty of examples to illustrate.

Kevin uses the person-first approach, whether he is working with players to develop their talent or coaches at different clubs. He has travelled the world plying his trade. He talks about the importance of adaptability, empathy and being present, noting that these strengths and skills are applicable in all forms of leadership.

In my mind, Kevin encapsulates all the qualities of the positive modern coach.

And as you would expect, we cover a lot more in this fantastic chat! Great for coaches, leaders, people in HR, learning and development as well as those who just love footy!

You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and Twitter