the value of a coach

I remember the squeak of our shoes on the hardwood court; the trickle of sweat down my back; the sting of the basketball as my point guard delivered it fast into my hands. Our team was down by 12 going into the second half against a bigger, more experienced crew. It would have been easy to be overwhelmed.

But Coach broke down the calculus of the moment into pieces that were meaningful for each of us:

Portia could take up more space in the paint. Victoria could pass into play quicker. Courtney could focus on offensive rebounds. Ysobel could draw fouls and pick up points from the freethrow line.

And me?

"Pancoast, you want to put points on the board? Go get the ball. Anticipate where they're passing and steal it out from under them. If you do it right, defense IS offense."

• He knew what the team needed: more possession.

• He knew my growth area: defense.

• He knew what motivated me: scoring points.

That's the beauty and power of a good coach in team sports. They see the whole court, the whole game, the big picture... AND they know how to get the best out of each individual player in order to achieve broader goals. They bring their brain, their hands, and their heart to every equation.

Growing up, I was a multi-sport athlete. I loved every game. I loved growing. I loved winning. And I developed a huge admiration for my coaches. They loved the game, growth, and winning too... but their impact came by harnessing the potential the players on the floor (or in the pool!). Providing perspective, advice, structure, encouragement, and accountability to get the best out of each of us... so we could achieve the best as ALL of us.

That's why I chose to become a coach, first in basketball and volleyball, and later in business.

Leadership is a team sport. Having a coach in your corner is about actively working to get the best out of yourself for the good of the team.

Here's something to kick off your week: 3 Ways a Coach Can Get the Best Out of You as a Leader