Cletus Coffey
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read
Cletus Coffey — Recovering Athlete

The “D” Word — Coaches Ask for What You Want

Ever been standing there with your empty bag in hand and scratching your head at the decisions your athletes make? Your bag is empty because you thought you had asked for something, but ended up not getting what you were looking for.

Most coaches, leaders, employers, and even parents blame their subordinates for their lack of following through. Yet very few think to question whether their own leadership or communication style is causing the poor results they are getting.

In my working coaching coaches, my first priority is to get familiar with their communication style and technique. This is crazy important for anyone leadership, however very few actually audit themselves.

One of the first words I pick up on when listening to a leader in sports or business is the word “don’t.”

I find that people in our society are always asking for what they “don’t” want versus what the “do” want.

Don’t be late. Don’t jump offsides. Don’t forget to call that lead.

Guess what happens when you communicate like this? Your player is late. Your team jumps offsides. Your employee forgets to call the lead.

Communicate what you want instead and let your players mind comprehend what you are asking for and they will be in a better position to execute.

Want to know what to say? Or how to ask (and get) what you want from your players? Get a deeper insight into this communication style, from the article I wrote for USA Football.

Cletus Coffey

Written by

Former professional football player | World Champion Athlete | Podcast: Recovering Athlete | Speaker | Coach | Bridging gap between sport & life

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