“Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them.”

Eddie Robinson

Parenting is the greatest and most vital of all the head coaching jobs in all the world.  Of course, every parent loves their kids, more than words can express.  That’s first requisite of a coach, loving the folks you coach, so it’s a good start.  If you’re a Mom or a Dad, your made the cut…you’re a COACH! (Like it or not.)

Let’s take a minute to look at a few thoughts on coaching from a parenting point of view.  (If you aren’t a parent, think of it from the perspective of interacting with all the people inside your circle of influence. And if you happen to be a coach, put on your coaching hat too.)

“A good coach will make his or her players see what they can be rather than what they are.”

Ara Parasheghian

Let’s help our kids see what they can be rather than telling them where they are falling short or not meeting our expectations.  We have all experienced how exhausting it feels trying to measure up, while simultaneously being told you’re not.

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

John Wooden

The greatest challenge of Mom’s and Dad’s (and coaches everywhere), is to help our charges make course corrections without planting the seeds of bitterness, embarrassment or belittlement.  What’s even worse is to give no corrective suggestions at all.  Showing disappointment or disgust, or simply turning your back on a performance that we deemed not up to par, causes extreme long term damage to those under our tutelage. Immediate adjustments are the best, but privately, if possible.

“A team takes on the personality of the head coach.”

Ricky Williams

If you don’t like the way the little darlings are acting, look in the mirror.  In most cases, they got it honestly.  There’s no overnight fix, but if you personally work on developing better habits in the areas you don’t like to see in the kids, they’ll take the cue, and work on it as well. (Just “telling them” to fix it aint’ gonna get it done.)

I’m talking to myself here, which is what this blog is about:  me coaching me.  (But I’m sure glad you came along on the ride with me.)

Boo Yah!