What Jared Diamond has said about Coaching and CEO impact on performance
2 quotes · 1 episode · Oct 19, 2026
Jared Diamond, American geographer, historian and author of "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings", has been quoted on Coaching and CEO impact on performance 2 times in 1 episode of Huberman Lab, most recently on October 19, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Diamond cites analysis of variance showing coaches account for roughly 15–30% of variance in sports success, with similar figures for CEOs in business.
“Analysis of variance applied to sports shows that roughly 15% to 30% of the variance in sports success is due to the coach”
Huberman Lab: What Makes Great Leaders & How to Live an Extraordinary Life | Dr. Jared Diamond (Oct 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:33:14
Diamond argues new coaches or CEOs usually improve after a firing largely for random statistical reasons, and that UCLA's athletic debt stems partly from coach buyouts.
“In the sports world, when you fire a coach, usually the new coach has a better record. Why? Because of all the random factors”
Huberman Lab: What Makes Great Leaders & How to Live an Extraordinary Life | Dr. Jared Diamond (Oct 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:35:33
Episodes
What Makes Great Leaders & How to Live an Extraordinary Life | Dr. Jared DiamondHuberman Lab · Oct 19, 2026 · 1 h 54 min
Andrew Huberman talks with Jared Diamond about his leadership book, Hitler, Truman, religious founders, birds, languages, sports coaching, aging and career advice.
Jared Diamond on other topics
- Leadership · 5 quotes
- The Population Bomb · 2 quotes
- Ornithology of New Guinea · 2 quotes
- Patagonia (clothing) · 1 quote
- Aging · 1 quote
- Peoples Temple · 1 quote
- Christianity · 1 quote
- Guns, Germs, and Steel · 1 quote