What if the real secret to great leadership isn’t found in strategy or skill, but in the strength of your character? This conversation with Dane Deutsch explores how character forms the true foundation of leadership, shaped by his own family values, military service, and years of leading diverse teams.

Through stories from the Air Force and his own experience as a CEO, Dane reveals why caring for people and building trust matter more than any title or technique. His insights show that whether you’re coaching athletes, running a business, or guiding a community, authentic leadership always begins with character.

Dane also introduces the “tricycle effect,” illustrating how qualities like trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility steer both personal and professional growth. From practical tools for self-coaching to the power of empathy and humility, you’ll come away inspired to strengthen your own character skills, build genuine connections, and lead with heart in every area of life.

Dane was a Commander in the US Air Force and first applied character skills in the military. He’s the CEO of LMDC Academy, which stands for Leadership Management and Development in Character. Over the past 40 years, he’s coached and trained athletes, businesses, and teams. Dane owned a cybersecurity company and sold it in 2020. He’s also taught classes on cybersecurity at the university level. He and his wife own a gymnastics training center for pre-k to high school students, and character is the #1 skill they teach, followed by leadership, and then technical skills. Dane’s most recent book is titled Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect: Coaching Character as the Foundation of Leadership.

You’ll discover:

• Why character skills are the true foundation of great leadership
• How self-talk and body posture can help you manage anxiety and boost confidence
• The “tricycle effect” and how it can guide your personal and professional growth
• Real stories about empathy, humility, and the power of being coachable
• Practical ways to develop trust, respect, and authentic connections in any area of your life

Watch the episode:

Connect with Dane

Dane’s Resources

Website

Leadership Management and Development in Character

Free Resource

3 Essential Keys To Build Character As Your Competitive Leadership Advantage

Books

The Tricycle Effect 2.0 

Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect

Related Podcast Episodes & Posts

284: You Can Grow Strong Character

GROWING STRONG CHARACTER FOR LEADERSHIP

What does it take to be someone who can benefit from coaching? Jacquelyn Lane and Scott Osman share the qualities that are essential to make the most of the coaching process.

Scott and Jacquelyn are the two lead authors of the new book, Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching to Transform Your Leadership and Life. Their co-author is Marshall Goldsmith, a familiar name to everyone in the business world.

Scott is the founder and CEO of the 100 Coaches Agency and Jacquelyn is the president. Together they designed a proprietary curation process for matching leaders and executive coaches for an extraordinary experience.

Scott co-founded the 100 Coaches Community with Marshall Goldsmith in 2016, and Jacquelyn is a critical pillar in that Community of coaches.

They are committed to not just elevating the quality of leadership, they are also focused on guiding leaders to elevate everyone in their organization so that every person flourishes.

You’ll discover:

• How Scott and Jacquelyn have worked on becoming coachable themselves
• The 4 qualities required for someone to become open to coaching
• The distinction they make between Rising and Flourishing
• Why flourishing (for self and for others) is the ultimate goal of coaching
• Examples of CEOs who’ve turned around companies based on their own coaching experiences

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jacquelyn Lane

Connect with Scott Osman

Resources

Websites

Becoming Coachable

100 Coaches Agency

100 Coaches

Book

Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching to Transform Your Leadership and Life