Do you talk too much?

Well, do you talk too much? This is a coaching disease, coaches love to talk and love to hear themselves talk. I love to talk, how else could I do 16 hour seminars by myself. Is what you are saying being heard? I just finished reading a book about Harvard crew called The Eight – A Season In The Tradition Of Harvard Crew. You can’t write about Harvard crew without writing about the legendary coach Harry Parker, an icon in the sport and a true coaching icon. Here is s an observation by author after one practice: “There is largely silence. Harry has probably spoken fewer than a hundred words the entire practice. What he does mostly is watch. What the crews do mainly is wait for him to speak – and they execute.” John Wooden was the same way, one phrase corrections with specific directions, no sermons, short, sharp, exact to the point. As a reformed screamer I have learned that tone of voice is also important, if you are yelling and screaming all the time the athlete will quickly tune you out. Know what you have to say, say it, reinforce it and let the athletes execute. Empower them; after all they have to do it not you. Remember many times it is as important what you don’t say as what you do say. Ultimately your effectiveness as a coach comes down to your ability to communicate. It is not what you say it is what they hear. It not what you show it is what they see. Learn to say more by speaking less.