Bhrett McCabe
4 Most Common Mistakes Coaches Make
When I sit with the most successful athletes and leaders in the world, they almost always point to a coach or a teacher who profoundly shaped their path. That's the seat you sit in. It is not an easy job, and the challenges are immense, but your commitment to getting better is the only thing that guarantees you’ll make a real impact.
Your "coaching fingerprint" is your unique advantage. It’s forged in your own experiences and your personal philosophy on competition. It must start with a clear, honest answer to the question, "What am I trying to accomplish?" From that starting point, your impact becomes a reality.
The Root of the Problem
What kind of coach do you want to be? What kind of impact do you want to make?
Far too many coaches can't answer those questions with conviction. They lack a clear navigational direction, so they chase the newest techniques and the latest technology, forgetting who they are at their core. But every great coach is defined by the impact they have on their people. You have to know what that is.
The Most Common Mistakes I See
They mistake imitation for inspiration. They adopt the style and philosophy of a coach they admire, but it never lands with the same power. That's because the conviction isn't theirs. Don’t be a tribute act for the coach that impacted you. Integrate their lessons into the coach you are uniquely built to be.
They believe they must have all the answers. They assume they have to be an expert from day one. The reality is, the greatest coaches are the most relentless lifelong learners. They allow themselves to adapt and mature; they don't hold themselves to the impossible standard of being perfect out of the gate.
They limit outside influences. The best coaches I know are not islands; they are hubs. They have the biggest networks and constantly invite experts to collaborate. Coaches who fall short are often the ones who lock the doors, usually out of ego. The final impact is on your athletes—they are the ones who suffer from not being exposed to other great influencers.
They make parents the enemy. The coach-parent conflict has become toxic, and the only ones caught in the crossfire are the athletes. The best coaches don't fight this war; they prevent it. They are relentless recruiters, not just of talent, but of allies. They turn potential adversaries into their greatest advocates.
The Solution: Define Your Manifesto
These mistakes happen when a coach doesn't have a clear, driving purpose. If you don't know what you want to accomplish, you will constantly search for the newest spark.
Let me be clear: It is not wrong to say, “I want to win championships!” That doesn't mean you don't also want to develop great human beings. It is okay to say you want to provide a developmental environment focused on self-esteem. That doesn't mean you do not want to win. You must define your primary mission and work towards it.
Several years ago, I wrote The MindSide Manifesto. The core idea is simple: establish a clear, unwavering purpose for your life. Far too many of us have been coached to be timid about what we want, and as a result, we stay frustrated. Can you imagine telling your athletes to hold back on their dreams?
Neither should you.
Don't worry about who you offend. This is about you learning to be the best you can be. Everything you desire comes with a sacrifice, and you must be willing to define your non-negotiables. I, for example, will not sacrifice time with my family. That clarity allows me to be ruthlessly efficient in my work so I can be present for them.
The Final Fingerprint
The questions at the end of a career are always the same: What did I build? Who did I impact? The answers aren't found in a single moment of reflection then; they are forged in the thousand small decisions you make now. Your coaching fingerprint is being left every single day. The real work is to make sure it's the one you intend to leave behind.