Being a great leader is like being an elite athlete. It demands fine-tuning to increase performance including training, repetition and learning new techniques. Leaders also plateau like athletes and therefore they have to train in advance for more intense leadership challenges and to unlearn old habits or develop new skills. Leadership and executive coaching are similar to customized interval training: learning is intensified and accelerated, new skills are learned and practiced, and possibilities are discovered and envisioned. Coaching provides a trusting, non-judgmental environment where leaders can focus, hear their own voice and discover where they, their teams and their organizations need to grow.