credibility

HOW WILL YOU WIN YOUR FIRST GAME….YOUR NEW TEAM?

 in Guest Post  tagged actions / coach / consistency / credibility / DeAngelo Wiser / honesty / leadership / promises / team / team building / vision / work ethic

With 20 years sports coaching experience DeAngelo Wiser specialises in leadership. In today’s guest post, which can be easily transposed into other team contexts, Coach Wiser shares some of his experience and knowledge of working with teams.

HOW WILL YOU WIN YOUR FIRST GAME….YOUR NEW TEAM?

by DeAngelo Wiser
Wiser Sports Leadership

"HOW WILL YOU WIN YOUR FIRST GAME....YOUR NEW TEAM?" by DeAngelo Wiser Wiser Sports LeadershipThere’s nothing like coaching a team for the first time, whether it’s your very first job, or if you’ve been around awhile and are just taking over another team. How will you gain trust and convince them you have their best interests at heart? Why should they believe you’re different from, better than, or as good as the last coach or coaches they’ve dealt with?

Parents and players in the audience don’t care if your record is 300-0, you’ve coached 100 All-Americans and won 7 National Titles. A successful past will certainly open many doors and extend your grace period of renewed hope for the program. But these parents and players are mainly concerned with what you can do for them.

That’s why one of the keys to getting off to a great start is to gear your comments toward them, not your accomplishments.

Certainly, each situation is different. But a team that’s had two or three coaches in a short span of time often is among the most challenging ones you could face. They will be callused to most of what you’re saying–they’ve heard the speech before and have become skeptical. Can you blame them? It becomes paramount that everything you say can be translated into immediate, concrete actions that are visible to the team.

What will make you different?

1. ACTIONS– Everyone associated with the team will hear 50% of what you say, but will be watching 100% of the time to see if your actions are true to your words. If you know you can’t deliver something, don’t say you’ll do it.

2. CREDIBILITY– Are you a coach of your word? Let players know as soon as possible if they aren’t the right fit for your system, and or you don’t see them playing much. Often upperclassmen from the previous year will still be on the team because the previous coach didn’t want to make the decision to let them go. Never think that players will “get the message” and leave on their own. Be strong and let them know before it gets out of hand. Disgruntled players can destroy your team.

3. HONESTY– If you make a mistake, admit it. If you see something that isn’t right, take care of it. Players need to know you’ll stand up for them and make the right decision based on expectations and values, not favorites.

4. PROMISES– This word should be used in a very meaningful way. Promises broken or never addressed will destroy your relationship with players and parents. A promise is an assurance that an expectation will be met.

5. VISION– Lay out your vision for the team, and begin work on it immediately. Mention it every day in how it relates to specifics in practice and games. The passion for that vision will spread to your players and continue to grow.

6. WORK ETHIC– Be a fireball of energy, passion and enthusiasm working at every chance. Be an example for your team and they will follow. Always outwork your team, and never have them do something you are unwilling to do.

7. CONSISTENCY– Never waiver in any decision with respect to expectations and discipline. Always be consistent. Players need to know you mean what you say. You can never make everyone happy, but you can base decisions on sound principles.

8. COMMUNITY PROJECTS– Get your team involved in important community projects. The chance to help others shows them life is more than a game.
The sense of accomplishment of helping others as a team is a feeling that cannot be matched.

9. INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS– Nothing means more to a player than having a coach who is willing to sit down, listen and meet with them on an individual basis. This is a wonderful time to discuss individual goals, and how you can help them become a reality.

10.TEAM BUILDING– Take the time to use any and all team building activities to bring your team together. If possible, take them on a ropes course. These are wonderful activities that challenge their decision making, leadership, teamwork and physical ability. If they’ve had several coaches they need that bond to tie them all together.

11. TEACH, TEACH, TEACH– At every opportunity teach your players goal setting, work ethic, expectations, motivation, personal discipline, nutrition, skills, tactical awareness, character, integrity, values, teamwork, leadership, respect, courtesy, humility, unselfishness, etc. You have a unique situation with a wonderful audience. Take advantage to make a difference in their lives.

It takes time for players from a team of many coaches to trust anything you say. There are no quick, “fast food” fixes. Don’t rush it. Remember that every day is a building block for you to prove that you have their best interests at heart and that you’ll do anything possible to help them be successful.

The beginning is always the most challenging. Selfish words from certain parents, an attitude from certain players, and the lack of skills and knowledge that you’re used to can be overwhelming. That’s when your true color will shine through.

This team needs you. Never doubt that this is the place you need to be and the joy of building this program will be one of the most rewarding aspects of your career. Anyone can coach a team of all-stars. The biggest challenge is to get them to play together. Show me a coach who can build a team from nothing, get them to believe in each other and accept their roles, and I’ll show you a coach of the year.

There’s a TV show that uses the phrase, “You are being watched every hour of every day.” It’s an appropriate phrase as you begin that new coaching job. While you can’t dwell on it, just keep in mind that your actions not your words will carry more impact with your players than anything else.

I wish you and your team the best in 2014.

About DeAngelo Wiser

Founder, Wiser Sports Leadership:

Experience in Coaching, Business and Teaching clearly give us the edge in assisting you, your team, and or business achieve their goals. We deal in what works, not theories.

Our leadership program for coaches, players, teams, organizations and business is based on five main principles as the foundation of success:

Character and Integrity as the cornerstones, with Optimism/Positive Outlook, Enthusiasm/Passion, and Confidence solidly placed between Character and Integrity. http://wisersportsleadership.blogspot.com/2013/07/laying-foundation-for-leadership.html

“Character and Integrity are worn everyday, regardless of the weather.”

“Leadership never rests”

“Lead with a passion”
Former Head Coach, High School Girls Soccer

20 years, 223 victories, currently ranked 4th all-time in state of KY, coached in 357 games.

4 State Playoff Elite Eights, 4 Regional Championships, 7 District Championships, 2 Regional Runner-ups

Kentucky High School Girls Coach of the Year

Kentucky Soccer Officials Sportsmanship Team of the Year

Owe it all to God, Wonderful Wife, Outstanding Players, and dedicated Assistant Coaches

35 players earned scholarships to collegiate level

Founder, Five Star Soccer Camps

Member NSCAA since 1994

National and Advanced National Diploma, NSCAA

Team Building, Motivation, Life Lessons and Bringing Teams Together are my passion!!

Compiling material for my book, “Coaching the Coach”

https://www.facebook.com/WiserSportsLeadership

http://wisersportsleadership.blogspot.com/

Twitter @coachwiser

co********@***il.com

Inspire Confidence through Simplicity 2

 in Guest Post  tagged alienation / attribute / business coach / business coaching / charging / client / clients / coach / coaches / coaching / coaching courses / coaching qualifications / coaching skills / coaching techniques / coaching training / confidence / credibility / empathise / executive coach / finance for non-finance / goal / insecurity / jargon / Jonathan Lamptey / leadership coaching / life coach / life coaches / life coaching / nlp coach / performance coaching / personal coach / personal development / problems / simplicity / solutions

In this weeks guest post, Jonathan Lamptey shares his expertise about how coaches can inspire confidence.

Inspire Confidence through Simplicity

by Jonathan Lamptey

As a reader of this blog, you will agree that forward thinking Coaches provide a holistic approach to their clients, considering the circumstances of the individual in order to correctly address the client in the appropriate context.

As Coaches we provide solutions for the problems, wants and desires of our clients, using our expertise to successfully navigate our clients through a period of personal development in order to arrive at their goal. As experts, we have in depth knowledge and expertise of a particular area; this is often accompanied by a glossary of technically specific language. Too frequently, Coaches hide behind jargon as a means of demonstrating their credibility to an audience that is unfamiliar with the terms being used.

One of the key skills in being a Coach is the ability to make the difficult look simple and the challenging look effortless. This comes from years of practice and experience which to a spectator may look like child’s play. Consider a concert pianist, a skilled craftsman, a trained athlete, their abilities seem effortless. The same can be said of their Coach.

This is an attribute that I have observed in all the great Coaches that I have had the privilege to work with. They don’t hide behind acronyms; they use simple language to deliver their message effectively. The skill lies in reassuring the client not how difficult the task is, but to explain how easy it is going to be now that they have the support of a passionate, enthusiastic and talented Coach.

The excessive use of technical language damages the client relationship in a couple of ways:

Alienation:

The Coach creates an additional barrier between the client and their desired outcome. The client already knows that they need assistance because they have hired a Coach. This may reinforce existing anxieties and undermine their confidence. This does not help the client.

Insecurity:

This behaviour often reveals a desire to convince the client that as Coaches we possess the skills that we claim we have by highlighting to the client what they do not know. This is not the behaviour of a confident and competent Coach.

Here are some tips to help you to keep things simple for your clients:

Empathise:

The client may be anxious and as such is looking for inspiration and guidance; try to understand how they are feeling and use this to inform the tone of the dialogue.

Avoid jargon:

Use basic principles as a starting point for any explanation of complex terms, this will reduce potential misunderstandings and instil confidence. Think of some of the technical words you use, can they be adequately replaced with plain English? If so, use everyday language until the client’s knowledge increases.

Place their needs first: Consider what they want to achieve and help them to achieve this to the best of your ability, our role must also be to reassure and guide, this can be achieved by explaining things simply.

A true teacher works towards their own redundancy and to some extent this is applicable here. Use simplicity to allow you to demonstrate your expertise and this will set you on the path to being a great Coach.

About the author

Jonathan is a chartered accountant, consultant and financial skills trainer with 15 years of operational experience with companies including The Walt Disney Company, Channel 4, Sky and the Telegraph.

His experience of working in dynamic organisations has created interesting opportunities to develop resourceful methods for presenting financial information to different audiences with varying requirements; from Board Directors to new starters.

Jonathan seeks to demystify Finance and Accounting in order to help people move beyond the numbers and increase their productivity. This has inspired an interest in academic research. Jonathan’s research interests include social entrepreneurship and workplace diversity and he is currently conducting research as part of a PhD at the London School of Economics.

His distinctive background allows him to combine rigorous academic research with commercial experience to provide a unique and refreshing approach to business problems.

Visit Jonathan’s comapny Finance for Non Finance Managers online at www.financefornonfinance.co.uk

 

Testimonials 3

 in Guest Post  tagged business coach / business coaching / charging / client / clients / coach / coaches / coaching / coaching courses / coaching qualifications / coaching skills / coaching techniques / coaching training / credibility / executive coach / leadership coaching / life coach / life coaches / life coaching / marketing / Merlyn Sanchez / nlp coach / performance coaching / personal coach / personal development / selling / smart business owners / testimonials

In this weeks guest post Merlyn Sanchez discusses the subject of testimonials and coaches.

Testimonials

by Merlyn Sanchez

One of the challenges coaches and consultants face when marketing their products and services is the issue of credibility. Prospects have a natural wariness which only increases with higher priced items and services. If they aren’t familiar with you and your company, the decision process can take much longer or even stall.

There are a few ways to overcome skepticism but one of the best is using endorsements from satisfied clients. Unfortunately, many coaches often neglect this simple but powerful tactic. Well-written testimonials create believability, credibility, and a sense of security for your prospective client. They set you apart from other coaches and help you break down buyer resistance. It’s no longer about you telling your prospects how great you are, now they have a recommendation from objective, third-party individuals who have invested in your product and service.

“But I feel uncomfortable asking my clients for testimonials”

Many people are uncomfortable asking for testimonials. But it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, testimonials can be incorporated into your business process as part of the regular check-in that you should already be doing with your clients. Additional benefits include:

o Customers become active partners in your business which can further your relationship and lead to repeat business and referrals.

o Asking for testimonials keeps you proactive in ensuring that you’re delivering outstanding customer service.

“How Do I Ask for Testimonials”

There are several keys to asking for compelling and effective testimonials:

1. Strike while the iron is hot, ask for testimonials as soon you’ve provided your service or sold your product.

2. Ask for specific details of how your business or service has positively improved their situation or solved their problem. Request specific “before and after” measurements.

Here is an example of a testimonial which offers specific details about the benefits they received:
“We were able to sell our house for $20,000 more than other houses in our neighborhood and we credit our real estate agent, Jane Doe. She brought us qualified, motivated buyers and our house sold even sooner than we expected. We can’t say enough about Jane’s professionalism and hard work.”

3. If at all possible, include your client’s full name, industry, profession, and location. Testimonials by “B.K.” aren’t as believable as one by “Barbara King of Seattle, WA”.

4. Always make sure that you ask for permission before you use a testimonial. Most people will agree but it’ll prevent any problems with clients who might not want to have their testimonial used for promotional purposes.

5. Thank your clients for their recommendation and let them know how important their support is to the growth of your business. If appropriate, send them a gift card or small token of appreciation.

“I’ve got testimonials, now what?”

There are countless ways to use your testimonials for maximum leverage. Here are just a few:

1. Use testimonials on your website. One option is to have a separate page on your website for testimonials. This can be very impressive, particularly if you have many testimonials. However, it’s also a good idea to include one or two on all the pages of your site. For example, if you have a testimonial about your ezine, include it on the sign-up page.

2. Include testimonials in your advertising. People are skeptical of ads so having a success story can significantly increase your response rate.

3. Create a “brag” book. You can keep this at your business and use it during sales presentations.

4. Include a link to a testimonials page in your email signature.

5. Testimonials will increase the impact of all your marketing material, including brochures, direct mail pieces, proposals, and public relations materials.

Famous advertising guru, David Ogilvy said that “Testimonials increase credibility and sales”. Make a commitment to ask all your clients for a recommendation and find more ways to use them to grow your business. The results will be worth it.

Copyright 2007 – Merlyn Sanchez

About the Author/Further Resources

Merlyn Sanchez, Business Coach and Marketing Consultant teaches coaches, consultants, and other solopreneurs how to attract more clients, make more sales and have more time to enjoy their lives. For a free report outlining the “8 SMART Strategies that Successful Business Owners Use to Attract More Clients”, visit: www.smartbusinessowners.com