Navigating the Nuances of International Coaching Federation Team Coaching Competencies
PART 4
Imagine a boat with a crew rowing down a river. The team coach, and the leader (the coxswain in this case) is there to guide and motivate the team, ensuring each member contributes to the rhythm and harmony required for a smooth journey.
If the coach starts to focus too much on one rower, adjusting their stroke, praising their effort, or fixing their posture incessantly, the rest of the crew begins to feel neglected, overlooked and it might impact their performance.
Some rowers might start to lose their tempo, feeling that their efforts are not seen or valued. Meanwhile, the favored rower might feel uncomfortably in the spotlight, burdened by the pressure of constant attention.
The imbalance created by overfocus can lead the whole boat to drift off course, or worse, create a sense of division among the crew.
On the other hand, if the coach pays too little attention to the individual needs of the rowers, failing to recognize that one might be struggling with the weight of the oar or another might be misaligned with the team’s pace, then the boat's synergy is at risk.
The rower who struggles in silence may withdraw, their oar barely skimming the water. The efficiency of the team's efforts diminishes as the boat begins to lag, not because of a lack of skill or potential, but because the individual nuances that could propel them forward are overlooked.
A good team coach needs to help a team to steer with a keen eye on both the horizon and the immediate rhythm within the boat.
They must tune into the subtle shifts in energy and engagement, offering support where needed without losing sight of the collective goal. It's a delicate dance of pushing and pulling, listening and assisting, a continuous ebb and flow of attention between the individual and the group.
For the team to reach its destination, each member must not only understand their role but feel integral to the journey. The coach's role is to cultivate this sense of belonging and purpose, blending the individual strengths with the team's objectives, so the boat not only reaches its destination but does so with a crew stronger and more united than when they began.
How do you maintain awareness of each team member's contributions while also keeping the team's collective goal in focus?
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Vice President at Golden Plan Choice Agency GPCA, Inc
1moThank you Ana for everything, you are awesome 🤩 and this is your home 🏡. God bless you my friend.