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In today’s issue…
Unhealthy vs Healthy Comparison
A conversation on building culture as a new head coach (with one of my favorite coaches)
And more…
🗣️ QUOTE
“Run Your Own Race.”
📝 NEWSLETTER
Comparison is an inherent part of human nature.
We all want to know how we measure up.
We all want to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Comparison itself isn’t inherently good or bad.
It can be a healthy tool or it can be a dangerous trap.
The key to using it as a healthy tool is where we choose to direct our comparison.
I’ve been thinking about this concept of SIDEWAYS vs BACKWARDS comparison since my conversation with Zach Brandon on episode 125 of The Better Coaching Podcast.
Zach is the former head of mental performance for the Arizona Diamondbacks (a professional baseball team).
Here’s the difference between SIDEWAYS & BACKWARDS comparison…
SIDEWAYS COMPARISON (Unhealthy & Unhelpful)
Looking left and right and measuring ourselves against our peers
It often produces anxiety and makes us feel like we’re not enough
It’s based on an incomplete picture. We see someone else’s current success, but we don’t know the work and other factors that led to it
It can be discouraging and defeating
BACKWARDS COMPARISON (Healthy & Helpful)
Comparing yourself to a previous version of you
It produces internal satisfaction and/or motivation to continue growing
For example, “Where am I today (at the beginning of this season) compared to where I was on the first day of last season?”
Focus on the GAIN over the GAP
Gap = Where I am (reality) vs Where I want to be (the ideal)
Gain = Where am I today vs Where I started
Key question: Am I a better coach today than I was ____ (yesterday, last season, etc.)?
As coaches, and just people in general, it’s so easy to get sucked into the trap of sideways comparison.
Our culture fuels it.
From the ads we see, to the social media we consume, so much of our culture preys on our thirst for belonging and significance.
It constantly nudges us into unhealthy, sideways comparison.
To break free from it, we must choose to embrace backwards comparison.
We need a clear vision of who we want to become and what we want to accomplish, then we should measure ourselves against those previous versions of ourselves.
Run your own race.
The GAIN > The GAP
🧠 COACHING APPLICATION
Take 5 minutes to reflect and write down answers to these questions…
What’s one area I’ve grown as a coach in the last year?
What are three ways I’ve grown as a coach in the last 3 years?
What’s one area I am committed to growing in this year?
I’ll share mine first!
I’ve grown in my ability to simplify practice activities using constraints, particularly for young athletes
1) I’ve grown in patience for challenging players; 2) I’ve grown in running efficient practices (maximizing reps for everyone); 3) I’ve grown in my ability to hold players accountable while maintaining a strong relationship (I still have lots of room to grow here)
This year, I’m committed to getting better at empowering and training my assistant coaches and camp directors
🎧 PODCAST EPISODE
#126. Becoming a Head Coach, Building Culture, & Team Rituals with Napoleon Sykes
Topics include:
The importance of a clear vision for a new head coach
The ONE rule they have in their program
Rituals and awards
The power of vulnerability
Measuring success
📝 Download the Notes (located inside the Better Coaching Community) 👉 Free PDF
A note from Luke about the podcast:
Every time I talk with Napoleon, I leave the conversation thinking, “Man, I would love it if my kids could play for that guy.”
I think it’s the highest compliment I could pay another coach.
👋 CLOSING
Thanks for reading, I hope this serves you on your journey.
To your growth,
Luke Gromer, RYG Athletics | A NIKE Sports Camp Provider
P.S. If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, reply “NIKE” to this email, and we’ll get on a call! You can see testimonials from over 100 athletes that attended our camps last summer.
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