People will apply lessons written by Navy Seals to their corporate job, but if you step out of your own sport and tell another coach about it, you might get a funny look or worse.
I've learned about neutral zone play with the puck in hockey by watching RB Leipzig play through the midfield in soccer.
I've learned behind-the-net power play set plays from watching lacrosse games.
I've learned about recruiting by interviewing for jobs this summer in various domains, writing down notes as they are interviewing me.
(Sorry for wasting your time, I'll write you a thank you note when those applied lessons pay off)
I've learned about sales and how it applies to building relationships and asking the right questions on 30 min free strategy sessions with companies trying to help my business.
Think these lessons apply to coaching your sport?
Yes is the short answer.
Watching another game on hockeyTV might not be what is best for you right now.
If you're a coach and have done hours upon hours of film study, what else can you study outside of your immediate sport to see something in a different context and ask why they are doing that?
If you're well versed in strength and conditioning, is reading another book about sets and reps going to move the needle for you or for your athletes?
Yes, we need to have domain-specific knowledge, but when can we start moving on to better communicate, better connect, or better the game by challenging current best practices?
How was that space created in midfield and how can I apply this in my sport?
I can tell this player isn't on board with what we are doing right now, how can I connect with his drives to get him there next week?
What is a doctor with a great bedside manner doing to connect with a patient that I'm not doing with my athletes?
What is one actionable thing I can test right now that is happening somewhere else?
We need more questioning and exploring.
Awesome post. Many great investors talk about reading "around" rather than "in" their field. Reading something about Biology or Philosophy, for example, might be better than reading yet another book about investing.