Working WITH an Athlete
We talked a little bit about influence tactics in a recent post. There are a time and a place for every influence tactic and so far we have only talked about 3 of many. The fourth one I will touch on is consultation.
When should we work with the athlete and co-create something together?
Consultation can create a sense of unity, which leads to more acceptance, cooperation, and trust.
It depends, but here are a few situations I use it:
1. Getting team captains or leaders involved in certain decisions.
You can't always appear to everyone that you have all the answers. You must give away power in situations that call for that type of leadership. If everything comes top-down all season... Well, good luck to you...
What choices can you as a coach be a little less type- A on and let the players decide?
2. Working with an athlete on a nutrition plan
As coaches, we have to meet them where they currently are on this one. If we don't they won't eat anything.
What do they currently eat and then offering small adjustments over time is best here. If you throw out 80% of their diet in one day, two things will happen:
They will hate you... Which doesn't build trust or improve the relationship.
They will lose weight and muscle because you've restricted them so much, they might just stop eating altogether.
Okay, the second one isn't completely true but you get the point.
70% of what is good and you recommend is a good starting point if they currently eat 50% garbage. Move the needle slightly, then over time, push for more.
When the athlete starts feeling better because of it, he'll be more on board for more suggestions.
3. A player wants to do something in the gym that has no point and flat out doesn't work. (fight the urge to tell them)
If they truly believe those ladders that some call "speed ladders" will make you faster... Just put it in their program for now... No amount of rational persuasion will convince them at first (especially if they are under 25 years old). Build the relationship and don't pass go or collect 200 dollars. Their prefrontal cortex can't develop any faster, even if you really want it too.
I've learned this one the hard way coming up in strength and conditioning. Just like the nutrition logic in the previous example,
If they are doing 90% of what needs to be done in the gym, is letting them have one exercise they want going to ruin the 90%?
Probably not...
And is it worth butting heads on when you give them a program day 1 of the season?
Probably not...
What have you done previously in training?
What do you like doing?
Is there an exercise you tend to shy away from because you've been injured doing it in the past?
These are all questions to ask if you are programming for your athletes and they can apply outside of the weight room too.
Where can you behave more like a consultant in your coaching practice?