Can you coach yourself? Can you be your own self-accountability partner? Can you push yourself far enough, hard enough, high enough – or do we NEED someone else?
What does a good coach do?
Asks questions.
Holds a mirror so we see ourselves. Keeps us on task, focused on target. Helps define goals, not doing it for us – pushing us to do that ourselves – encouraging us.
The landscape is abundantly strewn with coaches – abbreviations after their names; some real degrees, some certifications, some suspect. Impressive websites – like thermometers. Some hot. Some cold. Some blow the top off. Some barely register at the bottom.
For some, their mainline. For others, sideline. Or ‘something to do until they get a real job’, they’re ‘between positions’, like ‘consulting engineers’, looking for any gig to fill space, time and wallet until that really big-gig comes along.
Remember your best performances – playing sports in school, serious athletic competition, or drama production – there was a coach involved. Medals or championships rarely happen without superb coaching.
More serious our contests, the more significant the role coaches play.
Our current competitions may not be sport – might be job, life, relationship, art – as much if not more serious, but mostly we go it alone. By ourselves. Un-coached. Without demands placed upon us, without expectations to live up to. Just our own. And we are pretty forgiving/excusing, aren’t we?
If we don’t have a coach, then we need to be our own coach, push ourselves to get back in the game – push us to train, persevere and not settle for anything less than our best.
Hey coach, please put me in the game!
P.S.: most people don’t (or won’t allocate) have time, budget or commitment to a coach. I’ve done some coaching, yet have shied away from opportunities to ‘be coached’. I’ve come to realize this is an area where I need to get some help. I’m looking for ‘fit for me’ – wisdom of Lou Tice, experience of John Wooden – someone who digs deep. Still shopping …
Reader feedback:
DIFFERENT Selective news - Among my own group of friends, I am always amused at how many say "I can't stand that Liberal CBC" or, "I never listen to Danielle Smith" or "CNN or FOX, are never on my television". This idea of only watching or listening to media that matches our own beliefs results in a narrow focus on the world. I at least try to listen to commentators that I don't agree with, if for no other reason than to try and broaden or strengthen my own arguments, GB, Calgary, AB
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