January 18, 2002, Newsletter Issue #41: HOW COACHABLE ARE YOU? HOW COACHABLE ARE YOUR PLAYERS?

Tip of the Week

What does it take to “coachable?” • Knowing you don’t know everything • Willingness to do what your coach says • Being more interested in learning than looking good • Willing to listen • Accepting criticism (or just comments on progress) as part of the “package” • Not getting “defensive” every time someone suggests something different • Being patient with yourself as to results • Being in it “for the long haul,” and not expecting or demanding quick results It takes a kind of “surrender” to a teacher or coach. By surrender, I don’t mean giving up. I mean it in a positive way: Letting go of your need to be in control of every situation, surrendering your will a little so someone else can instruct or coach you.
There are highs and lows, breakthroughs and breakdowns. There may be long periods of what are called “plateaus,” where nothing seems to be changing. You have to endure them, because they are the prelude to more breakthroughs. "If every breakdown upsets you, then you won’t stay on the path long. If you love the path, you know that they are part of the process. To learn to shoot requires some real learning and lots of repetitions, with awareness. It’s going to involve retraining yourself to shift from shooting one way to learning a new, more effective way. If you’re not open to change, the old shot will continue to be the default and will hang around forever. It takes a bit of humility to admit that you don’t have all the answers and maybe someone else does and can teach it to you. "

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