Nothing to see here. You're an experienced coach, a former player, maybe you've won championships. You're busy and don't need distractions from building your program, your team, your coaching staff. But you're also curious, which makes you a better coach. I've just labeled you.
Effective coaching changes behaviors. Former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss, shares techniques including labeling. Labeling frames the situation. Let people know our view of the situation and the possibilities.
Help others be seen, heard, and understood. It won't always matter. We're 17-3, playing our first playoff game in 1973. We split against the defending State Champion. Coach tells us the team we're playing is competitive, 15-5, and will beat us if we're not prepared. We look at each other, eyes saying, "No way." At halftime, we're up 45-10. Kevin Eastman says, "you can't fool dogs, kids, and basketball players."
Send a message. "Susie, you're not going to want to hear this. You work hard, but not as hard as you can. You've improved, but not as much as you can. You wonder how to get more minutes." You're being honest but not brutal, label a 'value message' for Susie, and it can go a few ways. If she pouts, that's on her. If she says, "I need to be better to get what I want and I'm going to do it," she'll have a chance to succeed.
Michael Jordan was at UNC. He told assistant coach Roy Williams, "I'll work as hard as any player ever has at Carolina." Williams answered, "If you want to be great, you have to work harder than that." You know the 'rest of the story.'
Great players want coaching. Great players want edges to elevate their game and feed the monster. Label a great player and they'll usually double down on relentlessness.
Lagniappe. Range... shorten, sequence, time (patience)
