Basic Communication Skills for Coaches Edmond Otis BS, MS, MFT Senior Lecturer in Health and Sport Science EIT - Eastern Institute of Technology eotis@eit.ac.nz or 06 974 8000 x 5413 Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. - Margaret Mead
Types of Communication n Verbal - today 1 on 1 - today Small group Large group n Non-verbal today n Written n Electronic/ Technological n Visual symbols Every coach wants to help their athletes do their best. Some are better at this then others.
This is what all coaches believe we think we feel we do we do Coaches also believe this we think we feel we do we do Interaction Interaction
Basically, we are all sport psychologists. The goal is Peak Performance. Playing well when it counts. Thoughts Actions Emotions
In Sport we call it "the Zone. To reach that goal, coaches only have one tool!
The only thing coaches do is communicate Persuasion & Influence To share information Why coaches (leaders) communicate To resolve conflicts To express oneself To command others The most effective leaders and coaches win the hearts, minds, imagination and confidence of their followers or team-members
Some of it is just personality. Rule of persuasion #1. Who ever shares the most feels the most connected and the closest
Break it down 1. For people to care about your opinion, you generally need to project that you are interested in them. 2. For people to have confidence in you, you generally need to project that you have confidence in yourself. 3. First impressions are not really the most accurate, but they are generally the strongest and the most difficult to change. 4. 65-85% of communication is non verbal 5. How we project ourselves has a direct impact on how successful we will be. Non-Verbal Communication Enhances message being sent and tells us heaps about the sender and the receiver. Is continuous there is no choice. We don t decide to use it and we can t take it back.
Attending Skills are 65-85% of the Game n Your posture and body language create a feeling of involvement on your part. n Appropriate body movements and attention create a productive atmosphere. n Use eye contact appropriately. Body Language Let s look at the Attending Skills handout
Verbal Communication & Listening Responses Accepting Non-verbal or verbal actions Nodding head, smiling, uh huh, yes, I see, interesting, Oh! Repeating Restating keywords or phrases verbatim Tone of understanding or questioning tone as an expectation for additional information Paraphrasing Re-stating in your own words your understanding of what was said. Clarifying Formulate a question using either the repeating or paraphrasing technique Repeating verbatim with inflexion Or start out by saying Let me make sure I understand you.. Summarizing All key points or components of the conversation Begin Ok, lets pull all of this together. End Does that sum up what you ve told me?
Exercise: The Communication 2 Step 1. Ask a question 2. Acknowledge the importance. Say a version of: I can see this is why this is important to you. 3. Show respect and ask permission. Say: Let me make sure I understand what you re telling me. 4. Reflect feelings, clarify and paraphrase. 5. Ask: Is that right? Note - The partner must improve their understanding. Some this and that n Open ended questions for rapport and to get information. n Close ended questions to illicit agreement. n Questions that offer choices to drive decisions.
In general we find that excellent coaches have a great deal of empathy but not a lot of sympathy. Choose carrot more then stick. Coach Forward Give attention and verbally reward the attributes you want to see more of.
Questions and comments Edmond Otis BS, MS, MFT Senior Lecturer in Health and Sport Science EIT - Eastern Institute of Technology eotis@eit.ac.nz or 06 974 8000 x 5413