Watching the recent Six Nations rugby championship makes you think about what coaches do to help their teams win. If your coach is any good, he or she does all of the things listed below:
- Makes sure you know the rules of play
- Gets you in shape
- Drills you on plays
- Plays to your strengths
- Defines your role
- Challenges you to improve
- Boosts your confidence
- Builds team camaraderie
- Helps you win during the game
- Thinks long-term about the team’s needs
A leader-coach also does all of these things. Consider for a moment: drilling you on plays and helping you win during the game.
When your actions affect hundreds of people, you need to be drilled in advance so you’re prepared to do the right thing: how to communicate, who needs to be in the loop, what pitfalls to avoid, how to detect early signs of trouble. A leader-coach will take his or her team through simulations and exercises designed to get you prepared. At HSBC Bank, for example, managers are drilled on how to handle cross-border disputes. At Sprint, IT managers are drilled on crisis management. It’s easy to see how this investment can pay off. At Sprint, dozens of network problems are headed off each day because their teams are prepared.
Leader-coaches also help you win while you’re playing the game. They provide real-time feedback as you’re handling an issue, offering support and giving useful insights. Their doors are open, they keep their heads, they offer perspective.
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