7-Day Program to Start Your Own Coaching Journey: The Game of Life
Have you ever coached a neighbourhood sports team?
I remember how it felt the first time I taught a squad of seven-year-old soccer players, and how they can truly put my patience, not to mention sanity, to the test as they ran around kicking the ball like ants to a giant, white crumb.
It seems uncomfortable at first, having to be gazed at by a group of youngsters who will recognize me as not being the one on the field.
In some ways, that sounds incorrect, doesn't it? But what's the deal with coaching?
Coaching is all about being a, well, 'coach' in the corporate world of handlers, front-liners, and even a handful of benchwarmers waiting their turn to perform.
I know how it feels to return to my normal day job.
Some players are just MVP material, while others exist solely to help the MVPs, so why bother staying around?
It may sound ridiculous to argue that "there is no I in the team," yet even underachievers can be bitter losers.
These are tasks that may be completed in a single day, and becoming a coach requires tenacity.
1. There are a LOT of discussions these days about Corporate Team Building.
There are several possibilities, including vacation packages, rope courses, ongoing workplace activities, ice-breakers, and so on.
Management may also invest in films, books, and seminar packages to help them transform their firm into a team worth belonging to.
I'll offer you some suggestions on where you may get more information on these team-building tools later on.
2. The truth of motivation is just waiting to be discovered! It is ready for you to put into action right now.
Don't accept mind-numbing nonsense.
Make three modest changes to start looking forward to your alarm clock blaring each morning before you huddle with the team.
3. No matter what degree you graduated in, experience is the most valuable asset.
There's something special about being a people person who understands how to elicit the lively side of one person, and much more so when you combine it with a full team.
4. It is occasionally necessary to challenge a person based on his or her performance, but never their knowledge or intellect.
Unfortunately, I've witnessed a few blunders made by previous coaches who never seem to comprehend what a player needs to go through to get the job done correctly.
It will cause greater annoyance and, maybe, animosity.
If you want the work done correctly, do it yourself.
You'll have a sense of what it's like to be on the receiving end, which will help you chart a lot better course for progress.
5. Sending a player to the bench is perhaps the worst feeling a coach can have, especially if your guy is the best performing on the team.
When dealing with this type of guy, make sure he freely pours his guts.
Egotism in performance causes them to lose concentration on even the tiniest faults, allowing you to catch them red-handed.
Maintain a firm yet understanding stance.
6. Don't let your position distract you from what you need to perform.
Even coaches are human enough to believe that they are far superior, but only in terms of rank.
Even if you were in their shoes when you were their age, it is best to impart some wisdom so that they understand that it is for their own good.
Finally, you should learn to believe in yourself and your team.
7. Your primary aims are decisions and performance, and there are several of them to see if they might accomplish the work much more efficiently.
So, before you send one of your players to the bench, talk to him or her and see if they have any issues.
If it's too personal, simply encourage them to try their best, and a nice, encouraging slap on the back never hurts.
That's all there is to it, I suppose.
As a corporate drone, I understand how vital it is for a company to succeed, and we're all a part of that success.
Coaches are not there to make your job more difficult because you have an attitude issue or are a poor performance; rather, they are the guides who will assist you perform as hard as you possibly can.
You'll make them and yourself proud one of these days.