Redefining Success In Coaching
Posted by Ryan Geiger on April 20, 2010 · 2 Comments
What makes a good coach? When somebody says he or she is a good coach what does that look like? How can you gauge whether or not that coach is successful? Reality will tell you that the coach is only as good as his team, right? Nobody ever says that the coach who finished 0-30 is a good coach. Nobody is knocking down his door to recruit him for another coaching position. So really the coach is only as good as the players around him. Of course a good coach can improve and challenge his players, he can put in a system that makes them more effective. He can teach them the fundamentals and he can inspire them to new levels but at the end of the day it’s whether you win or lose that defines your success.
The same could be said about pastors. Nobody is recruiting or knocking down the door of a pastor who took a church of 500 to 200. A pastor is only as good as the team that he has around him. Staff, volunteers and those who buy into the vision. The pastor can teach them the fundamentals, he can challenge his church, he can put in new systems to be more effective. He can inspire them and pray for them. However there is a point where they have to grasp the vision and work together as a team to accomplish the one goal. Multiple goals don’t work. Multiple coaches don’t work. Arguing about how it used to be or how it was different on your former team won’t work. Trying to change the goals and vision of the coach won’t work. What works is everybody understanding their role no matter how big or small. In the end when the team wins and captures that championship, everyone from the towel boy and water boy to the assistant coaches to the head coach to the MVP player gets a ring. Why? Because they all played a part to reach the goal.
So how do you define success with a coach or pastor? Do they buy into the vision and work together to accomplish the one goal. If yes, then regardless of whether they win the championship or not, they are redefining what success is and at the very least they are heading in the right direction.
Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.
– John Wooden
Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you.
– Eddie Robinson
Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them.
– Eddie Robinson
When I think of a good coach I think of many people that have not only coached athletic teams but those who have seen groups of people through difficult times. As it is people show their true character in those difficult times.
Some people that come to mind include–John Wooden, JOe Paterno, Rudy Guiliana, Abigail Adams, Mother Teresa, Condi Rice
In one quote a leader in my opinion would do the following “The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”
Benjamin Disraeli
That is great and insightful. That is true that character comes out during the difficult times. Sometimes we forget about those people. Love the quote…I’m going to have to steal that for a tweet one day. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.