Thomas Jefferson said, “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

Being an inspiring coach is as much about who you are as it is about what you do. Your character is rooted in  your values, those things that are vital to you and reflect your uniqueness and priorities. Your values, not your circumstances or fleeting feelings, should dictate your decisions and behavior. Your values about people and performance should guide your approach to coaching your team.

John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach and 10-time national champion, said, “A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”

Inspiring coaches are crystal clear on their purpose to invest in future leaders. This might look like:

1.      Letting team members shadow you at a meeting, even if others might not think they are quite ready for it.

Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.

If you have children, you know they are great at maintaining their parents’ humility.  My youngest child, Lexi, is particularly gifted in this area.

Along with the books and columns I write, I have been writing this newsletter/blog for 20 years now. Occasionally I will ask my kids what they thought about one of my blog posts on a topic that is relevant to them.