Once again Vern Gambetta shares some good information in a simple format.
The importance of communication with your athletes and your colleagues can never be understated. It is through open and consistent lines of communication that teamwork is built.
The basis of communication is the 3 C’s.
Connect – Get the athlete’s attention. Know the athlete. Know their attentional style and preferred communication mode. Remember connection is not just verbal, it is non-verbal; body language can send a strong powerful message to connect or disconnect.
Convey – The message must clear, no nuance or hidden messages. Let the athlete know clearly what the message is in a language they can understand and translate into action.
Convince – The goal of the communication is to convince the athlete or professional colleague to act. If the message is clear and the intention is defined this should be a logical outcome of connecting and conveying.
Good coaches use the 3 C’s constantly without thinking about it. They get it because intuitively they know that communication is the cornerstone of successful coaching. It is not what you know; it is how you communicate what you know and elicit the desired action.
