APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021 , Vol . 7
“ Praise , while offered with good intentions , is a judgement handed down in the hope that it will stoke the fire of motivation . It can easily be overused .”
“ Affirmation is less of a judgement , more of an appreciation of positive qualities and behaviours that you notice . It is more likely to lift motivation and inspire further achievement .”
These statements left me reflecting on previous conversations and interventions with athletes in my care . For me , when coaching , I have always felt that it is important to remind the athletes in the team of how well they are doing , and the progress they are making . I stand by this approach , but when reflecting on the statements in the book , I feel that in the past , I ( like many other coaches ) have overindulged athletes with praise , nudging them towards being dependent on my role as a deficit detector ( a phrase used regularly throughout the book ), coupled with short term praise to boost motivation . Perhaps my eagerness to say ‘ well done ’ has felt athlete-centred but has acted as a hindrance to long-term development and intrinsic motivation . Moving forwards , I will aspire to still give praise , but in moderation , challenging myself to intervene with affirmation in mind .
Reflect : Consider your own coaching practice and the language you use when you speak to the athletes in your care . What might you say that offers more affirmation than praise , and what impact do you think it might have ?
“ Guiding is best for learning new skills and for solving more complex problems . It involves trust and working together , and talking about change and improvement , each taking a leading role .”
Another focus of the book that resonated with me was the reference to , and chapter focusing on , mindset . The authors paint a vivid picture of the contrast between an eagle ( the opportunity to see the wider landscape ), and a mouse ( the detail in a conversation ) and the skill of balancing both at the same time when having a conversation with an athlete . This chapter introduces the concept of the ‘ righting reflex ’ and highlights that sometimes coaches look to constantly fix problems , which can lead to athletes switching off too often . I have been reflecting on this analogy and considered how this will gradually impact on my conversations with athletes . It will certainly take some skill and practice to perfect , and from some mixed attempts it is clear
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