Spotlight moments can make or break your coaching.
Sounds harsh, but it’s true.
The world is filled with well intentioned almost-great-coaches who left coaching because they just couldn’t handle the spotlight moments, and steal the show.
Stealing the show is more than getting the athlete to do what you want him to do. Or crafting a smart email.
It’s about presenting yourself to your audience in an authentic, engaging manner at just the right time, when that spotlight is pointed directly at you.
And, unfortunately, that’s something few coaches have trained for.
The Spotlight Does Not Have To Be Scary
Think of your favorite TV show or movie. I’d wager that part of why that show attracts you is an actor who grabs your attention. You want to know more. “What was that he just said?” “Wow, see what she just did?”
Few coaches have any formal training on how to effectively communicate. As with many of the coaching-skills we need, we are self taught. And yet, we need to “steal the show” many times each day, such as when:
- You advocate to your boss for more budget
- A ref needs to know there is a rule he is missing
- A parent is close to overstepping his bounds
- A crowd of well wishers, sending you off to the championships, want that last word
- Your team (sorry coach) just lost a big one and are looking at you with tears in their eyes
At those moments, when the spotlight has been turned on, and is pointed directly at you, the show is yours to steal (or lose).
This Could Help
Because coaches are so “self-taught,” when a valuable resource comes along, it needs to be shared.
I’ve been following Michael Port for years, just after the publication of his book Book Yourself Solid. Port is a TV and movie actor who shares his extensive knowledge of working with audiences and individuals.
In his latest book, Steal The Show, Port presents shortcuts that helped me better communicate, and look at coaching differently.
For instance, early in the book (pg 15) he discusses roles that people play. I read that section at the same time we were having some issues on the team. Communicating his ideas about roles to a few struggling team members helped them realize their position on the team was important. And that was a turn around.
My all-time favorite communication resource is the book Verbal Judo by George Thompson. Port’s book is a great companion to Verbal Judo. I wholeheartedly recommend Steal The Show if you want to be the coach ready for when a spotlight moment arrives (and they do quite often).
(Click here if you’d like to learn more about the book Steal The Show at Amazon.)
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