What if everybody did that?
One question I like to ask our players when trying to correct behavior is, “What if everybody did that?” Unfortunately to some, it may not seem like a big deal to miss a practice, skip a workout, or fail to turn in fundraiser money. However, when asked, “What if everybody did that?” the player can usually see the other side of the coin and acknowledges that the team would not be successful if each player on the team acted in the same manner.
A coach can also pose the same question when trying to reinforce desired behavior. By pointing out something positive an athlete does, the coach clearly communicates what type of behavior he or she is looking for. “What if everybody… studied their playbook for 15 minutes each day, encouraged their teammates after committing a mistake, and ran his/her sprints as hard as (insert player’s name here)? What kind of team would we be then?” Recognizing positive qualities in an athlete not only rewards the individual, but also sends a clear message to the rest of the team about what the coach values.
The trick is to use specific praise. One of the most critical errors of a well intended coach are using the words “good job.” Good job for what? This type of generic phrasing blends in and eventually gets tuned out by athletes. Instead of speaking in broad terms, try letting your athletes know exactly what you notice. “I love the way you drove to the hoop with your left hand, hustled back on defense, waited for your pitch, etc.” This alerts the athlete you have noticed and appreciate their efforts. According to Jim Thompson, founder of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), when a coach sees something positive, he or she should say something positive. When the coach says something positive, he or she tends to see more positive things (Thompson, 2003).
References
Thompson, J. (2003). The double-goal coach: Positive coaching tools for honoring the game and developing winners in sports and life. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers ISBN-13: 978–0060505318
Coach Nelson holds a doctorate in sport and performance psychology and currently serves as a high school football coach, trainer for the positive coaching alliance (PCA) and adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University. He has worked for multiple professional sport franchises, a Fortune 100 Company, a division 1 athletic departments and has won numerous awards for his LEADership abilities.
His mission is to positively influence the world through Love, Effort, Attitude and Discipline (#LEAD). To learn more about the LEAD philosophy follow him on Twitter Levi Nelson or reach out via email at rln10@zips.uakron.edu He’d love to learn about or help you in your journey!
