FA Coach Guy Whittingham on Leadership, Mindset & Career Transitions
In this episode, FA Pro Licence course leader Guy Whittingham shares how he went from Army PTI to Premier League striker to elite coach—exploring resilience, leadership, and communication in high-performance settings.
You'll hear how military mindset, emotional intelligence, and adaptability shaped Guy's coaching philosophy — and how business leaders can apply the same tools to lead under pressure.
The mindset shift from soldier to striker to coach
Adapting from team-first to individual elite performance
How the FA identifies and develops future top-tier managers
Leadership insights from managing Portsmouth during crisis
Trust, resilience, and communication in elite environments
Applying sport psychology to leadership in business
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-whittingham
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whittguy (please confirm this handle)
🌐 FA Learning: https://www.thefa.com/learning
Drop the Act is brought to you by Performing Perfectly.
Performing Perfectly trains business leaders to think, speak, and lead like elite performers — without the fluff. From FTSE 100 execs to sports stars, they help people communicate under pressure and own the room.
Their workshops focus on storytelling that sells, presence that lands, and mindset strategies from sport, stage, and high-stakes environments.
🌐 Website: https://www.performingperfectly.co.uk
📩 Email: hello@performingperfectly.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 (0)1234 567890
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/performingperfectly
Christopher Key is a communication specialist, performer, and founder of Performing Perfectly. He helps leaders and teams communicate with confidence, clarity, and conviction under pressure — whether on stage, in the boardroom, or on camera.
