Human on the Inside with Clint Bizzell
Maxme: We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Welcome Clint and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight. You’re an executive ‘high performance coach’ who works with individuals and teams.
In 1 sentence (ok, we’ll give you 3), what does your role entail?
Clint Bizzell: I design and deliver high-performance programs tailored for executive leaders and teams, to help them play at their best.
M: You established Clint Bizzell Consulting a little over six years ago now, but your career is of course much deeper.
First up, you were a professional AFL player, clocking 6 years with the Geelong Cats (75 games), and another 6 for the Melbourne Football Club (88 games). Following retirement from professional sport, you spent two years as a Community Education Program Facilitator for the AFL, after which you ventured into Management Consultancy for a Melbourne based firm.
One of your foremost career accomplishments, however, has been Directing Eve Media - a highly successful media production company. In addition to travelling the world to produce and present Eve Media’s “Places We Go”- your flagship series with a global audience of 300 million, you’ve produced several documentaries including “Taking the Tackle” – a documentary addressing Respect for Women on behalf of the AFL and State Government of Victoria.
You’re also a Non-Executive Director for Brainlink Services, and have been an accredited Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centred Coach since late 2017 and this year completed the Group Coaching Practicum from the renowned Kets de Vries Institute.
How does all this work speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
CB: I feel fortunate to be able to say that having personal purpose has always felt very clear to me, it lies at the heart of all my pursuits and drives everything. It’s quite simple when all is said and done – to be the very best I can. Whether that’s with work, as a life partner, friend, or father; it’s what drives me. We only get one crack at this thing called life, and I’ve always wanted to make the most of it.
Even as a six-year-old boy, I had such a strong dream of playing AFL footy it set me on a life journey of being deeply curious about all things high-performance. When you really drill down on this, it’s a term that we simply use for playing at our best across life.
With football it was about striving to be the best player I could be, both as an individual and a team member. With Eve Media it was about creating a high-performing culture in our team and create psychologically safe spaces for those we were interviewing to tell their story. Whether we were filming guides in Antarctica or helping farmers in million-acre properties in the Kimberley, it’s vulnerable for people to tell their stories with heart and soul. I’m proud to say we became known for this.
And through my consulting work today, I’m privileged to help leaders and teams play at their best through my programs. Throughout my own life, and through those I’ve coached, I’ve come to realise that living “on-purpose” also enables much greater resilience through challenging times too.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
CB: For me living out my dream playing AFL was incredible.
Over my twelve-year career, I had just one day off a week, and always believed in using my time wisely through study or work, but my mind was always focused on how I could play better football. I gave it everything I had.
Outside of footy, I’m pleased to say I tried a lot of different things. From a pre-vocational course in carpentry, golf course turf management, odd jobs in recruitment and sales – and my real passion at the time apart from footy was acting. I did formal classes for six years. Looking back, I realised my love for acting was sparked more by a fascination for understanding human behaviour and allowing the creative side of me to come out. I’d always loved theatre at school.
Little did I know that my study of acting would build my confidence too, which led me to joining my partner's production company - Eve Media - after I hung up my footy boots.
I spent the better part of a decade travelling the world producing and presenting our International TV Travel Series Places We Go.
Initially thrown into the deep end, I learnt how to present, produce, edit (I did an editing course) and more importantly learnt how to look after remote teams, interview people on camera, and produce other presenters. This was all through lived experiences in some of the most remote places on the planet.
I learned a lot about myself during this time. Looking back all roads led to the career I hold so deeply today, which is of course coaching others.
When my coaching career began I was hooked. It’s where everything made sense to me.
Before I started my own consulting business, I cut my teeth in a boutique management consultancy group where I focused on strategy, culture and leadership programs. It was the most natural, “fun” thing I’ve ever done and kicked off my journey to completing formal qualifications in executive and team coaching, which I built on every year. It’s important to me that I bring the latest tools and reflections to those I work with.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21-year-old self it would be ...
CB: Be curious, ask more questions, and don’t be afraid of not knowing the answer.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?
CB: Leaders and teams are made up of fallible, imperfect human beings, and the power of effective leadership and teamwork is a formidable force in any industry, or indeed in any market, against any competition, at any time.
My role as a coach/facilitator is to accelerate the development of leaders and teams to be high performing, despite our dysfunctions or ‘flaws’.
The skills I place particular value on include active listening, asking lots of questions, storytelling and challenging how people think, feel and act.
I feel at times my job is like being an archaeologist – to work slowly but surely with leaders and teams to reveal what’s currently inhibiting their performance, and then finding new ways of working together to develop high performing habits. This culminates in more engaged, empowered leaders who achieve better results.
M: Self awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said… what’s your strongest trait / personal super power?
CB: Challenging people to play at their best.
I like to get to the heart of the challenge/complaint/defensive behaviour that stands in the way of my clients being extraordinary. Then (with their blessing), I challenge them to step up for themselves, and their people. The work is meaningful but can at times be confronting – it takes hard work for any human to be high-performing.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
CB: There are many that’s for sure! I would say activating my curiosity through asking more questions.
I’m very action orientated and like to make progress and drive outcomes – it’s inbuilt in me, which made it hard for me to ask questions to start off with.
Asking questions was a critical skill of course when helping people share their stories for our TV travel series. I was lucky to have a brilliant and intense training ground! As a coach it’s one of my most powerful tools I use daily in helping clients to accelerate their development.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent university graduates or candidates keen to working in a field like coaching (in any capacity - sporting, or executive performance) what would it be?
CB: Have a curious mindset. Be open to all learning and experiencing life.
I would suggest seeking mentors and not being afraid to ask them questions. Also, offer to assist other coaches for the experience. Try things, fail, get up and keep going.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one university graduate to your business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
CB: Someone with a genuine passion for helping others play at their best, along with a can-do attitude to consistently show up and give things a go, no matter the circumstances. It would spark my interest further if the person was already taking an active role in their own development journey.
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.” What’s next on your #learning agenda?
CB: I believe it’s not only crucial to our professional growth, but personal longevity, to continue educating yourself.
I recently completed a 9-month Psychodynamic Group Coaching Practicum from the Kets de Vries Institute which I found incredibly valuable. On a personal note, I’m also an Assistant Coach with my daughter’s U/15 Football Team. Apart from the enjoyment I get from watching her and her teammates thrive on the field through the team culture we’ve built, I find immense joy being part of the grassroots footy culture. Ultimately we’re all there because we love what sport can do for the community; it’s always interesting, insightful and lots of fun.
As for what’s on my learning agenda, I’m about to head to the UK for a family holiday, and whilst there, alongside touring the Scottish countryside and learning about the clan battles of my partner’s family that were won and lost throughout history, I’ll be taking some time to reflect on what to study next. Learning and growth is deeply rooted in who I am.
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