When Recruiting "Intangibles," Coachability is First
 
Who do coaches and managers want on their team? Athletes who have a chance to be stars. Potential is uncontrollable, so recruiters are smart to focus on coachability. Will this athlete get better faster or slower than the competition? How good is he at making adjustments? Does she have a positive attitude towards hard work and constructive criticism? As she moves up the ladder, will she sink or swim?
 

The coachable athlete is eager to learn: approachable, attentive, curious, trusting, and confident. He lacks arrogance and defensiveness; rather, he is inquisitive by nature. Learning faster than his competition today is his top goal, because he knows this means more winning in the future. He does not view constructive criticism as an attack, but as a blessing. What could be better than someone else helping him achieve his goal of getting better fast? He listens with the intent to learn, not the intent to be right or smart. His body language communicates gratitude, not resentment. When something doesn't work, he searches for the reasons within himself rather than making the excuse of blaming others.

The coachable athlete is a team leader. She sits up and makes eye contact when the coach addresses the team. She nods her head when she hears a good idea and she is not afraid to try new things. She knows that not every new idea will work for her, but she tries the adjustment with optimism that once she gets a little comfort and familiarity with it, this will make her better. Her eagerness for improvement is contagious; her presence helps the attitude of both her teammates and his coaches. She knows that T.E.A.M.

 

 

COACHING POINT - A problem in American culture today is that learning stalls after college. This is certainly not a universal truth, just a trend. Many professionals are satisfied that they have paid their dues, now they can direct traffic. Some are never satisfied with the status quo, even if it is working pretty well. They do not lack confidence; they have been making learning what works a priority for a long time. They know they have skill, but also know that the world is an ever-changing place. If they are not getting better, someone else will pass them. It's an old known fact that the people who need to learn the most, learn the least and the people who need to learn the least, learn the most.

COACHING POINT #2 - People (athletes, spouses, employees) are more "coachable" when their emotional tank is full. Constructive criticism is indeed part of the coach's responsibility, but each critique is also a tank drainers in well over 90% of athletes. Therefore, constructive criticism is just one part of the coach's job. Ultimately, the way the athlete behaves inside and outside of competition is the measure of coaches' abilities. Do not underestimate the impact of filling their emotional tanks -- or draining them!

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