Dimensions of Communication

The ability to clearly communicate your message is the key to effective coaching. Unfortunately as coaches we too often rely on one dimension of communication – talking. A wise coach once told that you that have one mouth, two eyes and two ears for a reason. Watching and listening should occur in that ratio to talking. Don’t forget your persona, body language, energy level; they all go a long way toward determining your effectiveness as a communicator. When you do speak be aware of your tone of voice – sometimes it is not what you say it is how you say it that makes the difference. Last but not least remember if you don’t know what to say or don’t know what to do then don’t say or do anything. Sometimes in a stressful situation it is good enough and means more to the athlete for the coach to just be there.