10 Things Good Coaches Do

High Performers have coaches. Here's what to look for in a good one.

1. They’re prepared.

   • They focus on the details. The ins and outs. They know the game, the situations, and the moments that you’re going to face.

2. They make the complex, simple.

   • They take complex systems and boil them down into simple, actionable items for those around them to execute.

3. They care.

   • They want you to be your absolute best. As a person, athlete, doctor, etc. They want to see you do well.

4. They communicate.

   • Where communication is lacking, cloudiness forms. Good coaches communicate to create clarity.

5. They put you in positions to grow.

   • Not necessarily to always succeed, but grow. They know there are no skipped steps along the way. They find moments to put you in to grow.

6. They adapt.

   • What’s worked for one might not work for another. What worked in one game might not work in this one. Good coaches adapt to their environments and personnel.

7. They learn.

   • They usually don’t make the same mistakes twice. By reflecting and learning, coaches keep improving, so when they recognize a similar situation down the road, they learn to respond more effectively.

8. They connect.

   • They connect the dots between others. Different departments, people, personalities, etc. They bridge the gaps that often go unnoticed.

9. They know which buttons to push, when.

   • An art, but knowing when to kick in the butt versus love on. The right words to say when.

10. They fail.

    • They’re not perfect. They’ve become good because they’ve failed. As the person being coached, it can feel like they’re perfect in your eyes. They’re not, they’re human. They, too, have failed. That’s why you want their expertise.

What else do good coaches do?