6 Ways To Inspire Progress
Coaching comes in many different forms. Inspiring change is the biggest challenge that many of us face. How can we get the best out of those we are coaching?
1.Sense Of Achievement
Every coaching opportunity there is a chance to help the individual get better. Obviously some days individuals are going to perform better than others. As coaches it is our obligation to ensure the individual leaves the session feeling a sense of achievement. Dopamine is produced when tasks or goals are accomplished, this feeling becomes addictive. This will inspire further progress.
A long journey is made up of many small steps. It isn’t about making everything feel good all the time, but some part of a session should ensure a sense of achievement. Even if a goal isn’t reached, time spent on a skill can lead to bigger gains down the track. This is still achievement. Action is achievement.
Who wants to finish a session feeling like they bombed out on everything? Does this make players, athletes or general population excited about the next session? Boost morale, purpose and esteem and see the progress. Make them come back for more!
2. Why!
Something I have experienced a great deal in my career is people talking about keeping things simple. There is a fine line between having an individual’s head spinning with too much information, and allowing them to build ownership of the skill, tactic or system. At times simplifying is the easy way out as a coach.
I remember back to my first coaching experiences teaching swimming to 5-6yo kids. I still remember explaining the ‘why’. I felt the kids needed to understand the greater purpose of what they were trying to execute. Being able to swim laps or swim at the beach required small steps to made, but understanding the big picture helped this process. The kids that understood the why progressed rapidly.
There is lots of what and how dished out even in professional sports, but not so much Why. The potential of an individual and a team is greater if time is dedicated to explaining and understanding the why. Everything is hard until you experience it. Invest the time, reap the rewards.
3. Simplest vs Best
The simplest way is rarely the best way. Work towards the ideal scenario of challenge and achievement. Don’t cap people at the easiest to achieve standard. The goals worth chasing are the ones that seem out of reach. Sport is a complicated series of events with a simple motive. The easiest way will ensure you have less potential and ceiling of achievement. When taking a more challenging direction it is important to focus on the process. Outcome based thinking takes you out of the present. Process focuses on a ‘next job’ mentality. What do I need to do now!
4. Developing the Higher Purpose / Best Version of Themselves.
Working out what you want to become. Many athletes and general population are getting about their training with the right motives. But how many have clearly and honestly stated what their purpose is, what are they trying to achieve?
Are they attacking every session with the intent of being conscious in the moment? I suspect many are working hard and following instruction but with little clarity about how this is going to achieve the goal, if in fact that goal has actually been clearly defined. Most of us have much more potential to improve in everything we intend to in our training – but how many are being coached to.
Urban Meyer has a red line that must be crossed before players enter the training field. This signifies that it’s time to be in the moment and get better. It’s not just about training hard and competing. It’s about being mentally absorbed in the activity. It is much easier to be in this state if the higher purpose has been defined. Inspire everyone you coach to be the best version of themselves, not to simply follow instruction. This goes beyond just setting goals – what do you want to become? You become what you think about.
5. Coach The Individual.
The improvement of the team is partly due to the cohesion and chemistry of the individuals that make it up. Perhaps an area that is under worked in many sports is the need to coach the individual. How much of your program is working on individual improvement vs team improvement? There is huge scope for individual improvement in team sports. Team activity in any sport is comprised of many individual actions. The athletic and skill improvement of an individual can only benefit the team. Implement drills that allow players to develop their individual skill. Coach the skill not the drill.
6. Encourage Mistakes.
Errors in training are a chance to improve. Take juggling for example. How frustrating is it making mistake after mistake, constantly tracking down the balls to have another crack? But how good does it feel when there is progress, you take a step forward!
There is no choice when juggling but to make an error in order to learn the skill. What if all movements or skill are like this? In life we are taught to play it safe and not to make errors. Many athletes don’t practice their skill or don’t express themselves through fear of failure.
Training doesn’t always resemble its meaning. As far as footy training goes, I much prefer the word practice. Training too often refers to working hard more than focusing on the execution of skill. When trying to extend yourself and get better, errors are inevitable. How many ‘mistakes’ are made on the way to a free standing handstand?
What about when Lebron James decides he needs to add another trick to his game every offseason? What you see in the season opener doesn’t resemble his July practice. Making mistakes is part of the progress as long as the intent is there.
Be comfortable in the uncomfortable on your way to skill development!
If the progress of your athletes, team or clients plateau the first place to check is your coaching! What are your principles!