Coaches, your athletes are just like you (only younger and in better shape). I am not saying identical. I am saying they are a reflection of what you bring or don’t bring to the party. They are reacting pro or con, for or against, etc. They are not identical, but neither are identical twins.

Therefore, if your team isn’t performing to your satisfaction you might want to start by checking in with that person in the mirror to see what course of action you might want to take. This could be good news. I can initiate the transformation of my team by initiating a transformation in myself.

This is not “magic wand” stuff. This is asking a question and being willing to hold myself accountable for acting on the response to the question, “What is missing?” It’s adding something, not getting rid of something. An example might be “What’s missing is leadership.”

By the way, this is the sob-story of losing coaches across the land, i.e., “I just didn’t have enough leaders on my team this year.” My response to this is “Who is in charge of training leaders?” That would be you, my friend. Leaders can be trained. You need to make the environment safe for them to practice. That is, after you have upped the ante on your own leadership.

Leadership is just one example of “What’s missing.” It could be passion, straight talk, integrity, authenticity, support, etc. and the beat goes on. What’s missing is just that, what’s missing. Whatever is missing YOU bring to your team, in spades.

Your actions are 10 times as powerful as those of any of your athletes. Remember this, transformation isn’t an event. It is a process of practicing every day. it is a process of asking yourself, “Is there anything else?” The work is never done. There is always the next hill to climb, but what a view you already have because you have never stopped climbing.

And Remember …

Check out the coaching bookstore for your next reading material on Coach Todd’s list. You won’t be disappointed in the insights available.