You don’t need to be Sherlock to know I’m fond of history – especially Alexander the Great.

Hell, I named my business after him. Indirectly, at least. Antipater was the man who ran the Macedonian empire while Alex was off invading Persia.

Alexander’s achievements were more impressive, but they were impossible without someone there to keep things smooth in the background.

Which is a nice analogy for coaching…

There’s a lot to learn from the stories we have of this campaign. I mean, half of LinkedIn is people saying move quickly and treat your people exceptionally, which were two key factors to Alexander’s success.

But few business gurus today could match the brilliance of the speech Alexander gave at Opis. After ten years of campaigning, he stared down a hoard of his own mutinous soldiers. I can’t imagine anything more intimidating. Never mind that these men have proven themselves as hardy, resilient and violent, but these are the troops he fought alongside.

Their job and duty was to protect him, like they had since the invasion began. I’ve never conquered the largest land empire of my day as part of a scrappy underdog force, but I imagine it builds a bond of trust like nothing else.

For all that to flip… The sense of betrayal at their mutiny would probably outweigh the sense of danger.

Anyway, Alexander then gave an amazing speech – one that made them down weapons and come pleading to his tent, hats in hand and knees on ground as they begged his forgiveness.

I’ve heard this speech narrated. I’ve read various translations of it. If I were a more linguistic sort, I’d have learned ancient Greek just so I could read Arrian’s account of it in Anabasis of Alexander in the original ink.

The point is, it’s an impressive feat of psychology and influence. It must have taken significant insults – perceived or otherwise – to make these men turn on their king. The same king who had given them untold wealth, power and glory, while treating them as equals.

To undo all that hurt, anger and frustration – to turn it around so thoroughly that the soldiers were ashamed of their behaviour – is incredible.

Now, it’d be arrogant to say I know how he did it.

So here it goes:

I know how he did it.

Or, rather, I know a lot of what made this speech special and how to use it.

And, if you’re lucky, I’ll use the Opis Framework on you.

I don’t know if you’re the sort of person who wants to get that fired up – to feel as though you stand in the presence of a mighty warrior-king who reached into your soul and burned away your weaknesses. That feeling is hard to come by.

“Isn’t that manipulative?”

Caring is manipulative. Yeah, Alexander gave the speech to save his life, campaign and legacy. But he also saved his troops from themselves. If they’d gone through with the mutiny, they would have lived in shame. History would remember them as unparalleled ingrates who threw a tantrum over petty concerns. As for their wealth and power… well, we don’t have to guess as to what would happen if Alex died young.

His speech saved them as much as it saved him.

And that’s what coaching is all about.

It’s about saving you from yourself.

That’s only a problem if you care more about protecting your ego more than kicking arse.

And I receive coaching myself at least weekly, if not more often. It’s how I was able to come up with the Opis Framework – and have the confidence to use it.

If you’d like the unparalleled confidence of a solider under Alexander the Great, then let’s talk:

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