Dave Oldham, shares his experience as a coach, teacher, entrepreneur and charity founder in today’s guest post:

The KISS principle- Keep It Simple, Silly

by Dave Oldham

Kevin Hall, the author of the book Aspire defines a coach as someone who “carries a valued person from where they are to where they want to be!” This comes from the concept of a stagecoach from generations ago, which was the method of travel for the elite.

As a coach, it is so important that our belief system includes the value of the people we are working with. Without fully giving value to the people you work with, your heart cannot be engaged in the process of taking them to where they want to be. Once you have value for the individual, you can then focus on where THEY want to get to, not where YOU want them to get to. This can be a challenge as the coach may see a different path.

To meet this end, there is a simple three step process to follow. The key is in the simplicity of it all, and the magic comes from daily, consistent action.

1. Determine where the person you are working with is at, and accept this unconditionally. What is the current skillset, experience, commitment level and motivation for improvement
2. Where do they want to get to? This must be specific and goal oriented. Are they wanting increased sales, income, satisfaction, relationships, clients, time freedom, independence, autonomy, or any other valued benefit.
3. How can we get them there? As a coach, the greater the diversity and ability to help the people you work with gain new skills, keep consistent with action, measure results, reflect, and build upon improvements the more value you can provide.

As a high school basketball coach, the above plan has allowed our program to guide more high school athletes to college and university basketball than anyone in Western Canada over the past five years. The process is about the athlete, which has contributed to 100% buy in. Training sessions are focused and target specific areas that will allow the athlete the opportunity to play post-secondary athletics. Belief systems are instilled that promote excellence, commitment, and daily action to self improvement. The process is all about working with the athlete on where they want to go. Athletes are challenged to explore their thinking, push the limits, and challenge themselves; however setting goals and deciding where they want to go is left up to them.

We also go through this process as a team at the start of our season. Everyone sets goals, but the art of coaching comes in the plan set forth to obtain those goals.

The X’s and O’s of coaching basketball are irrelevant to this, and therefore can be applied to any sport, or any coaching situation in or out of sport. Coaching is about building relationships and as Kevin Hall states “carry a valued person from where they are to where they want to be!”

About the author

Dave Oldham is a high school teacher and basketball coach, entrepreneur, charity founder/director (www.childrenofecuador.ca), husband and father to two girls, and world traveller.

[pinit]