My Favorite Coach

I’m not sure how the subject of leadership style came up but when guys get talking on the same subject for a long enough period of time it always turns to sports.

I played football and tennis when I was younger. They didn’t necessarily attract the same athletes and certainly required different coaching strategies.

I remember my football coaches very well because they tended to spend a great deal of time shouting and throwing clip boards. My dad was a football coach so I knew from a very young age that most of the emotion was intended to get the players’ adrenaline pumping. It was a necessary component both for the benefit of the team and the protection of the player.

Coaching Techniques aren’t Universal

So the conversation turned to one of my old football coaches who had taken over the tennis team.

“How’s that working out?” I asked already laughing.

My friend described the jeering and criticism this man was firing at players, during their matches. He either had no idea how negatively this was impacting the players or didn’t care. The opposing coaches were either content to have him sabotage his own team, or were intimidated by his size.

A Time and A Place

In business we rarely need the leadership style of the football coach, but always crave the style of the true tennis coach. When obtaining specific goals depends upon our level of concentration, encouragement and praise are food for self confidence.

Just like a tennis player needs to believe they are good enough to defeat their opponent (not a pathetic loser with a forehand like an old lady) an entrepreneur needs the confidence necessary to persevere through difficulties.

The leadership style dripping with positive reinforcement always produces amazing results. Coupled with a genuine interest in other peoples success, that leader is priceless.