Coaching is a Relationship

Coaching is a relationship, not an activity.

Data or strategy don’t matter much if the athlete-coach bond is not in place.

Think of all the great coaches you’ve had. What made them great?

Was it the workouts? Or the manner in which those sessions' were conducted or delivered?

Was it the pre- and post-game speeches? (In the case of triathlon, the post-race/training analysis.) Or the care and passion behind the words?

Did his or her words matter more simply because they were true, or because you knew the coach was invested in your growth?

Now, think of the not-so-great coaches you’ve had. What made them forgettable, or unforgettable for the wrong reasons?

Most (if not all) of my negative associations with a few of the poorer coaches I’ve worked with are recollections of their behavior, not whether they could craft a quality coaching strategy.

I think it’s the same way in the workplace. Look around you in the office. Who are the known great leaders and managers? What makes them stand out? Conversely, who are the managers for whom nobody wants to work? Why?

Effective coaching is able to be delivered through mutual trust and respect. Not through a business schedule, training calendar or a race plan alone.