How Constructive Kindness Is More Effective Than Constant Criticism
Why I won’t tolerate a coach who yells at my child
It’s important to adopt the assumption that every person you meet is seeking shelter from a raging storm. You must aspire to make your sphere of influence an oasis of tranquility. You can’t control the world, but you can offer every passerby a place where they can renew their strength before having to again face the howling winds.
This is what I think about when I help to coach my daughter’s 5th grade basketball team. The other coaches don’t necessarily think like me, but I’m older than they are, and I’ve seen few things they haven’t.
As the kids have grown, so has the external pressure for the coaches to be “hard on them.” Too often in our society, there’s an assumption that criticism provides a more effective pathway to positive results than offering a compliment.
I don’t believe that.
I don’t think you have to break people down in order to build them up. In fact, that sounds like a poorly disguised justification for abuse.
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