Northern Ireland Volleyball’s Indoor Performance Manager, Callum Grieve, recently attended the latest instalment of the Coaching Leaders Programme in the Vale, Wales, joining a group of coaches and leaders from across the UK and Ireland for an engaging and thought-provoking few days of learning and development.
The latest workshop focused on the theme of “Curious Conversations”—exploring how effective communication can positively shape organisations, strengthen relationships, and create environments where individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered.
Delivered through a collaborative partnership between Sport Northern Ireland, sportscotland and Sport Wales, the Coaching Leaders Programme brings together forward-thinking individuals from a range of sports to share experiences, challenge perspectives, and develop as leaders.
Throughout the course, attendees explored key leadership themes including:
- The importance of asking better questions to create meaningful conversations
- Building trust and psychological safety within teams and organisations
- Managing difficult conversations with empathy and clarity
- Using curiosity as a tool to drive innovation and collaboration
- Reflecting on personal leadership styles and communication habits
Speaking on the experience, Callum said:
“The programme was a fantastic opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of performance sport and reflect on how we communicate as leaders. The concept of curious conversations really challenged me to think differently about the way we engage with athletes, coaches, staff, and stakeholders.
The biggest takeaway for me was the power of listening with intent and creating environments where people feel comfortable to share openly. I’m excited to bring these learnings back to Northern Ireland Volleyball and continue building a culture of trust, growth, and collaboration across all areas of the organisation.”
The course also provided a valuable networking opportunity, allowing participants to connect with like-minded professionals across multiple sports and governing bodies, building relationships that will continue beyond the programme.
Northern Ireland Volleyball remains committed to investing in the development of its staff and coaches to ensure the organisation continues to evolve and provide the best possible environment for athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers.
We would like to thank Sport NI, sportscotland and Sport Wales for their continued support in delivering impactful learning opportunities and look forward to seeing the positive impact these learnings will have across our volleyball pathway.
#WeAreNIVolleyball #Leadership #CoachDevelopment #CuriousConversations
