All of us know that there isn’t one single correct way to coach an athlete or a team. Every coach has a unique style that they bring to the table. Sometimes styles have to change or adjust depending on the moment. Most coaches are constantly trying to find new ways to be better leaders and maximize the most potential from their athletes. Not just for the sake of winning and the team, but to for the betterment of the individual they are molding and trying to grow into an outstanding individual.
While there may be different coaching styles, there are clear common traits all great coaches have that truly make them top notch leaders. Here are a few traits that can help you as a leader maximize your athletes performance both on and off the field.
- Know your athletes: This might not always be easy, but learn the individual differences in the athletes you have on your team. Each individual human is different and not all the players on your team are going to respond the same way to your coaching. Knowing the individual differences of your athletes can help you communicate and motivate them based on what works best for them. Know your athletes emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and ways they respond to your coaching style.
- Trust and safety: A key to getting buy-in from your athletes as a coach or leader is creating an environment where they feel safe and comfortable to come to you if something is wrong. You want to get the most out of your athletes both on and off the field and that gets difficult to do if you shut them off right away. Develop an environment where your athletes know that failure will happen and help them learn from it. Don’t punish them for failing.
- Listen actively: Don’t just hear the words your athletes are speaking to you. Actively try to understand their meaning and intent behind them. That requires you as a coach to be an active participant in the communication process. Be fully present when your athletes come to you, listen to understand rather than to respond, and make the person feel heard and valued.
- Belief in potential: Make sure your athletes know that you believe in their potential. Don’t be afraid to be critical of what they need to work on, but help them find a path forward to maximize their skillset. Showing belief in them will help motivate them to focus and work on what they need to do to better their game.
- Partnership and collaboration: Collaborate and partner with your athletes. You can learn from them as much as they can learn from you. Helping your athletes understand that you are all in this together to achieve the same goal will help garner buy-in from everyone. A shared sense of direction and goals is crucial to having everyone on the same page.
- Never stop learning: Lastly, never stop learning. There is always and opportunity to learn and grow as a coach. Oftentimes we can get stuck in our routines and a sense that we are always right. Don’t be afraid to seek help from others and learn from other coaches about what has been successful for them. New development and training techniques are constantly coming. Don’t be afraid to explore and stay up to date on things that might help your athletes.
It’s not always easy to find your coaching style and the things that will bring out the best in your athletes. Take the time to truly get to know your athletes and believe in them. Never stop learning and trying to improve your abilities as a leader. All of us are not perfect even though we strive to be. We can all benefit from finding ways to become better versions of ourselves!
