Open-sourcing these questions in the hopes that my next employer will read them and like the answers. This is me. Here is another question from the interview process:
Who has made the biggest impact on what you would consider your coaching philosophy, positively or negatively?
I’ll do both. In the positive direction, my mentor and the model I started to build off was my first junior hockey coach, Todd. I’ve written about him, recently.
Quick note on the prospective employer. before we dive in. They said they read a lot of my stuff because I linked my Substack in my resume. But, I think they just said that. Which is another signal. You didn’t do your due diligence, you just said you did. Lesson in that…
What did Todd do to positively influence me? He modeled it. He didn’t say and then not do. He said it, meant it, and did it. He didn’t “push me” he inspired me to be better. An excerpt from The Wave:
I knew I wanted to be a serious hockey player my whole life but my “ignition moment” (the moment I was inspired to take it to a new level) came in my first year of junior hockey. And it wasn’t because my first junior coach, “coached me hard.”
Instead, he did understood the Paradox of Power:
The sign is a cope for coaches that won't evolve The greater the force, the greater the resistance Don't demand them to be great... Show them and inspire them That's loveShowing to Inspiring
You can tell when someone loves the game of hockey. And when you “think” you love the game and then you meet one of these people… You realize you could love the game a whole lot more.
Todd was that guy for me. He’d show up at the rink early, go above and beyond for the players, and never lose energy the whole day. It was infectious to be around this guy.
“We can do hockey whenever you want here. Call me and tell me to come back to the rink if you want to work on a skill you’re struggling with. We can go to lunch if you need to talk or want to ask questions. Whatever you need.”
Most coaches say “whatever you need” and then it’s not like that… But he meant it.
So I took him up on it.
Because I thought I loved hockey.
But I knew he loved hockey.
So I wanted to be around him to learn how I could love the game more which would make me better.
So I came to the rink early and we would work 1 on 1.
I stayed late for the same reasons.
I would have asked questions but 18-year-old me was almost “mute.”
So he taught around my body language, facial expressions and what he saw I was struggling with and where I needed my knowledge gaps filled.
He ignited me to “want” to go to the next level. It was love, joy, excitement, freedom, and inspiration that transformed my entire game.
There wasn’t one bit of “hard coaching.”
What is Unmeasurable is What Matters
Todd was a master at what was unmeasurable, and that is the stuff that connects you to a person. The stuff that calls you up to be better:
Having fun creates an interested player. Interested players want to know more. Keep people interested.
When a coach can inform a player on how that player can specifically improve on and off the ice, that player will yearn to know more. When a coach can create value for a player, the player wants to increase his value. Keep people informed.
When a coach gives you autonomy over your development and asks you questions about what you think, that creates and more engaged player over his own process. Keep people involved.
If you model what dedication and commitment look like to the craft and can come into work everyday and inspire them, you’re winning the game. You’re winning the relationship. You’re winning as a coach. Keep people inspired.
Who Influenced Me in the Other Way?
My negative influence or anti-mentor? My 2nd college coach.
You’ve heard a ton about that guy. Not going to give him any more attention and energy.
If you’re new, read these: