Coaching lessons

While on the train to the Belgian seaside I read the small and colorful book “Act like a coach”, which I received as an end-of-year gift. The book is written by sports coach Paul Van Den Bosch and former CEO of Atlas Copco Ronnie Leten. As a way to process the coaching lessons more actively, I list all those I found interesting here.

The lessons and tips are ordered more or less chronologically as they appear in the book. The perspective changes from coach to coachee, from sports coach to business coach, to more general advice.

I don’t necessarily agree with everything, make up your own mind (or start a discussion with me). Let’s get to it!

1. Proactivity beats reactivity.

2. Losing together is winning together.

3. Speak in terms of “We“, not “I” or “They.”

4. Get under your coachee’s skin to improve your bond.

5. Apply the 80/20 principle to become more productive.

6. Trust works as a motivator and an incentive to do well.

7. Never demand more than what is possible. 110% makes no sense at all.

8. “Feedback is food for champions.” Make sure the feedback is constructive. You can use the SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) method to giving feedback. Praise whenever possible. Stay close to a 3:1 ratio of praise:critique.

9. Only control the controllables.

10. Destructive goal pursuit (“goalodicy”) is bad. Outcomes are not your identity.

11. Nurture talent with the right physical and mental stimuli.

12. Be patient.

13. Remember the 10 000 hours of practice rule to become an expert.

14. Regularly ask “How are you feeling today?“

15. Become a master in empathic listening.

16. There are many benefits to starting the day with rituals.

17. Embrace, to a certain extent, stress. Positive stress, that is. No negative stress, please.

18. Target people’s strengths. Don’t try to turn a 4 into a 6, but focus on the (potential) 10’s.

19. Profit from the power of sufficient recovery time through supercompensation.

20. Doubts can bring you closer to success. As a coach, don’t show them too often.

21. Dare to ask yourself “What can I do better as a coach?”

22. Don’t fall prey to the bandwagon effect. Trust your vision and objectives.

23. There are two kinds of stamina: physical and mental.

24. Have brakes when it comes to work ethic.

25. Wanting to become World Champion is rarely a good idea. Realism has value.

26. Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle: Why > How > What.

27. Draw up plans with the participation of your peers (such as your coachees).

28. Coaching a team is also about leading individuals to their highest level.

29. There is a difference between the long-term goal and the short-term goals. The latter describes the process, and is ultimately the most important.

30. Focus on the opportunities instead of the challenges.

31. Find a way, as an individual, to relieve stress hormones. Sport is perfect.

32. Look at the bigger picture.

33. Look ahead. Especially after failures.

34. People will always make their own choices, don’t expect them to be anything else than self-sufficient.

35. Create a positive atmosphere.

36. Every individual should be aware about their contribution to the global mission, if relevant.

Thoughts? 😉