Thoughts from a Coach
The late Vince Lombardi, hall of fame Green Bay Packers football coach, said, “Coaches who can outline plays on a blackboard are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate.”
Many of us are neither coaching nor playing sports right now, so I have had plenty of time to reflect on coaching. Any thoughts I have on coaching are always fueled by how to motivate myself and my players to success.
A good motivator helps by developing a shared understanding of the task at hand. That is followed by demonstrating to those you want to motivate that they may not always be judged simply by winning and losing, because not everyone wins. Show them that they are judged by the quality of each hour they spend accomplishing tasks. Show them that their efforts tie directly to the benefits they will derive from participation.
In return, these motivated people will decide what they want and then direct all their efforts on getting it.
2 Replies to “Thoughts from a Coach”
Doc Brown,
This article is a great reminder that if you want to motivate people, you not only have to share the plan, but you have to help them understand why things are required. This understanding engages and connects people. If you can truly connect, motivation is second nature; it just happens. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and they will drive toward a common, shared goal when they understand it.
I appreciate your posts; they always get me thinking!
Jeannine
The points you make here are right on target! Thank you.