How do you turn values into actions?

I recently had a chat with Movement Sports about values. Here is what I had to say ……..

My coaching is deeply rooted in five values that we chose when we first set up our club - precision, dedication, perseverance, respect and excellence. I don't coach people because of how good they are. I coach them because they can bring something to the group by living those five values.

Although we set the values as coaches, we ask the athletes for their perceptions and interpretation of the values. We give them space to decide what the values mean to them.

I adjust my behaviours to match situations. So, for example, the more gruelling the training, the more light-hearted I make my communication. I want the values of precision and excellence to come through in the training session while I also respect how each person is feeling that day.

I recognise the responsibility I have as a coach to have an impact. For me, impact comes about through bringing our values to life day to day through meaningful interactions. That could come from something as small as positive feedback to an athlete that leaves them happy or calling a person after training because I noticed they feel a bit down or just offering opportunities to talk things through.

When I recognise an open straight-talking athlete I make sure to ask them off-line about my behaviours. I ask for really honest feedback and we talk through their feedback about the extent to which my behaviours align to the values. I ask them, how do you want me to be?

My goal as a coach is to have an impact and leave a legacy beyond competition. When I think back to the coaches I had as an athlete, I realise their greatest impact on me was that I could retire as an athlete and function in the real world afterwards.

The bigger picture is, we want to leave a legacy of young people who develop as a person, not just becoming the best athletes they can be. We want to help them navigate the big wide world."

You can follow Movement Sports through their website mvmtsports.com or their social media @mvmt_sports