Coaching Coaching matters
I recently listened to the high-performance podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes.
The podcasts bring an insight into the lives of high achieving world-class performers who share their experiences and the lessons they have learned on their journey to the top. In particular they are asked to share their three non- negotiable behaviours which have taken them to the top of their field and kept them there.
I listened to Shaun Wane, the former Wigan Warriors head coach and the new England rugby league head coach, share his inspiring coaching story and his three non- negotiables - look to improve yourself, be a good bloke and look after your craft.
Shaun expanded on his non- negotiables. He talked about the importance of having clearly understood on-field and off-field behaviours and being relentless in looking after those standards. Coaches should be clear on their expectations. Don't wait for players to make mistakes. Tell everyone everything.
Shaun attributed his success (under him Wigan Warriors won three Super League Grand Finals in seven years) to his confidence and work ethic and to his commitment to his three non-negotiables.
He avoided energy-sappers, tried every day to improve himself and
by Paul Westgate
was “comfortable with not being happy.” In other words, he never stopped, never patted himself on the back and he never took things for granted. He was always looking to improve.
So what are non-negotiables and why are they important? Simply put, non-negotiables are the things you will not negotiate on. They are aligned to your values and principles and define not only what you will and will not accept from others, but also what you will and will not accept from yourself.
The concept of non-negotiables is not new. We all have them in our lives whether we are conscious of them or not. They are our personal standards, the lines we will not cross or allow others to cross, the behaviour we will not tolerate from ourselves or from others etc. They are unique to us and our situation. Only we can determine what they are and importantly only we can manage them.
They are there to guide us through hard times and when decision- making is difficult. They will help us focus, feel empowered and be in control. When we clearly define
what is important to us and we are prepared to follow through no matter what, they will give us a real sense of direction, purpose and clarity. As sports coaches, how do we come up with our non- negotiables?
Be clear. Write down what is important to you as a coach. Differentiate between a non- negotiable and a 'nice to have'. Brainstorm what matters most to you as a coach.
Be concise. Having too big a list will not be a realistic way to change. Select three behaviours which for you will be your non- negotiables. Your non-negotiable may be linked to a principle (I will always be polite towards others) or to a weekly action (I will arrive punctually for training).
Be in control. In order to follow through with your non-negotiables they have to be under your control. You don't necessarily have to be in charge of the outcome but if you have taken the action you said you would then you still followed through on your non- negotiable. Reflecting on your three non-negotiables will also help you determine your WHY as a coach.
Be relevant. Review your list regularly. As your life and circumstances change so too does what is important to you. Your non-negotiables must still be relevant.
Be open. It's one thing to decide on your non-negotiables and to
write them down, it's quite another thing to live by them.
Communicating with people that matter in your life, for example your family, but equally in a coaching context, your co-coaches and players, is very important. Let people know what is important to you and why.
Be honest. You will slip up. There is no such thing as perfection even in something as absolute as a non- negotiable. You will inevitably have to compromise but don't beat yourself up or feel guilty. Be kind to yourself and commit to doing your best.
So is now a good time to review your non-negotiables? And if you don't have any non-negotiables then think about choosing three that will help you become a better person/coach?
Being clear on what matters most to you, setting your non- negotiables around that and then following through on them can make a big difference in all aspects of your life (personal and coaching).
Having non-negotiables helps build trust with yourself and your players in following things through. You actually feel good, your self-esteem will grow and your self-confidence will increase. And that must be a win/win for you and your players.
Paul Westgate is the former director of sport at Uppingham School and currently head of performance rugby at the University of Nottingham
Issue No.81 January/February/March 2021 SCHOOL SPORT 39
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