Beyond the Podium

Coaching Sports from the Inside Out

Ever feel like your coaching strategies are stuck on repeat, churning out the same drills while your athletes plateau faster than a sprinter hitting the wall? Let's ditch the one-size-fits-all playbook and embark on a coaching adventure that'll transform your athletes' performance and ignite their inner champion. Buckle up, because we're about to delve into the fascinating arena of consciousness, where your coaching style and goal setting take center stage.

But here's the twist: lurking beneath the surface are those disowned parts of ourselves that whisper self-doubt and sabotage progress. Think of them as mental gremlins in the locker room, throwing wrenches in the finely tuned machinery of athletic success.

Let’s look at goal setting in coaching through four levels, of consciousness, different states of awareness and perception that influence how we behave and respond to life's challenges and opportunities. Our predominant level of consciousness influences our behavior and how we interact with our athletes.

Let's grab our metaphorical headlamps and explore!

1.???? The Solo Performer: The "Me-Centric" Mindset

• Imagine your team as a collection of individual athletes, each solely focused on their personal best. They operate in isolated lanes, disconnected from the team dynamic. Think of them as a group of rowers each pulling their oar with perfect form, but the boat going nowhere fast. This "Me-Centric" mindset breeds competition within the team, hindering communication and collaborative strategies.
• Goal Setting in "Me-Centric": Individual-centric, often focused on personal bests and exceeding external expectations. Goals lack connection to a team's vision and foster internal competition. Think "beat my personal best by 2 seconds" instead of "qualify for nationals as a team."

2.???? The Hustle Highway: The "By-Me" Burnout

• When the behavior is more driven, athletes push themselves to the limit with relentless training and an endless to-do list. While hard work is admirable, this "By-Me" approach can lead to burnout, injuries, and a disconnect from the joy of the sport.

• Goal Setting in "By-Me": Goal-oriented, often driven by external validation and a fear of failure. Goals are clear but lack a deeper connection to the intrinsic joy of the sport. Think "win the championship" instead of "develop my skills and enjoy the journey."

3.???? The Synergy Zone: The "Through-Me" Flow

• This is where the magic happens! Athletes here surrender the need for rigid control and tap into a deeper flow. They train collaboratively, aligned with the team's goals and each other's strengths. Think of them as a football team executing a perfectly choreographed play, each player moving in sync to achieve a common objective.

• Goal Setting in "Through-Me": Collaborative, focused on growth and alignment with the team's vision. Goals feel exciting and achievable, building upon each other like well-placed bricks on a path to success. They often involve learning new skills and pushing personal boundaries.

4.???? The Peak Performance: The "As-Me" Synergy

• At this level, athletes experience a profound sense of connection with their sport, their teammates, and the team's goals. They radiate a sense of purpose and...and a joy that transcends mere victory. Imagine a group of synchronized swimmers, their movements a seamless conversation underwater, a testament to their dedication and synchronized artistry. While this "As-Me" level might sound like an Olympian's playground, even a glimpse can significantly boost an athlete's performance and team spirit.
• Goal Setting in "As-Me": Goals become a natural extension of the athlete's passion for the sport and their commitment to the team. They focus less on external validation and more on expressing their unique talents and contributing to a shared vision. Think "master this new skill to elevate my team's performance" instead of "beat my rival."

The Coaching Upgrade: Cultivating Your Inner Leader

Now, how does this translate into powerful coaching? Your own consciousness. You’re the coach, leading your athlete across the training landscape. The higher your own awareness, the better equipped you are to navigate these different levels and illuminate the roadblocks holding your athletes back. Here's how to cultivate your coaching consciousness:

• Self-Exploration is Key: Delve into your own limitations and hidden beliefs. Maybe you struggle with a touch of "By-Me" striving, pushing your athletes too hard. Perhaps a flicker of "Me-Centric" insecurity lingers, leading you to compare yourself to other coaches. Unearthing these limitations allows you to overcome them and become a more present, compassionate coach.
• Become a Master Communicator: Ditch the one-size-fits-all pep talks and tailor your communication to each athlete's level of consciousness. For "Me-Centric" athletes, focus on building trust and fostering team spirit. With "By-Me" athletes, explore their motivations and help them rediscover the joy of the sport.
• Hold Space for Transformation: Create a training environment that is both challenging and supportive. Athletes need to be pushed outside their comfort zones, but also feel safe to take risks and learn from mistakes.

Coaching Beyond Limitations

Let's explore how to navigate each level and support your athletes in overcoming limitations:

1.???? The "To-Me" Trap

• Goal Setting in To-Me: Athletes and team members are reactive, avoid responsibility or are blaming others. Hidden beneath the blame game lies a river of anger and frustration. These behaviors fuel a victim mentality, keeping athletes stuck in their own lanes.
• Leading Beyond the reactivity: To lead your athletes out of the Solopreneur Swamp, shine a light on the hidden anger. Help them identify and express their frustrations. Owning those feelings is the first step towards a more collaborative and accountable work

2.???? The Hustle Highway: The "By-Me" Burnout

• Goal Setting in By-Me: Where athletes are goal-oriented, fueled by external validation or a fear of failure. This Fear of failure and a deep sense of inadequacy cast long shadows in By-Me. They strive to prove themselves, driven by accolades and acceptance rather than internal joy.
• Leading Beyond external validation: Explore the athletes fear of failure. Help them see their inherent worth, validate their efforts, and encourage self-compassion. This dismantles the "never good enough" thoughts and opens the door to a more sustainable approach to goal setting, empowering them to own their successes. As a coach have you worked with a athlete who fears failure? – by helping them reframe failure as a learning opportunity, you empower them to keep moving forward.

3.???? The Innovation Hub: The "Through-Me" Flow

• Athletes here surrender the need for rigid control and tap into a deeper flow. They co-create with a sense of purpose, aligning goals with their own and the team’s vision. Imagine the team, working together in flow, creating magic, each using their talents to contribute to the harmonious whole. There is collaborative, focused on aligned core values and a sense of purpose. Goals feel effortless and exciting, like building blocks on a path the team was meant to be on.
• However, lingering control issues might cast a shadow here. Team members may struggle to fully trust their intuition or surrender to the flow of collaboration.
• Leading Beyond mistrust and skepticism: Help athletes identify any lingering control issues. Encourage a beginner's mindset, allowing them to experiment, trust their intuition, and embrace the collaborative flow. Have you experienced a team captain who struggles to collaborate – by creating safe spaces for open communication and brainstorming, the coach can help the captain and team unlock their collective potential.

4.???? The Peak of Connection: The "As-Me" Interaction

• Teams here, experience a sense of connection with each other and games flow. There is a shared sense of purpose and success and even a feeling of connection can transform a team's performance and culture.
• A coach working with a team that has trust issues, needs to address those issues head-on and creating a safe space for vulnerability, the coach and captain can build a more cohesive team. Encourage team members to bring their whole selves to work, fostering a sense of belonging and psychological safety. Celebrate individual strengths and unique perspectives, recognizing how each person contributes to the team's success.

Beyond Goal Setting: Embracing Soulful Strides

Traditional goal setting often falls short. Let's unlock a more powerful approach I call SOUL Goals:

• Significance: Goals that connect to a deeper purpose and contribute to something larger than ourselves.
• Ownership: Goals that feel authentic and aligned with our core values.
• Understanding: Goals rooted in self-awareness.
• Liberation: Goals that empower us to shed limitations and step into our full potential.

The Invitation

Are you ready to transform your coaching and guide your athlete company towards SOULful goals and a thriving culture? Remember, the most powerful coaching starts within.

John Farrell is a coach working with coaches who want to take their relationships and performance to another level.

https://calendly.com/johnfarrell-business/mental-skills-in-sports