Lisa Quandt

Coaching is Hard. What makes a Great Coach? There is so much. It is a dynamic job, and few understand the complexity and dynamics of being a coach. Here are 10 Traits of Great Coaches. 1: RELATIONSHIPS FIRST - Great coaches care about their players first and foremost. They work hard to build positive relationships with all players. They know relationships are the heartbeat of great teams. 2: CLEAR STANDARDS - The number one job of a coach is to build culture. Culture is: What coaches allow, what coaches emphasize, and consistent follow-through every day. Great coaches have clear standards and focus on maintaining these every day. 3: EMOTIONAL IQ - Great coaches, get it. Great coaches have “with-it-ness.” Great coaches can read the room, read their team, and connect with many different types of people. They have high emotional intelligence. 4: SELF-AWARENESS - Great coaches, know thy self. They know their strengths and weaknesses and try to fill these gaps with great assistant coaches. 5: ExXCELLENT COMMUNICATORS - Bringing a group together to achieve a common goal is challenging. Clear and concise communication is critical. Great coaches are master communicators. 6: MINDSET - Great coaches operate with a growth mindset. This mindset becomes part of the program's culture. It is a mindset that we can always get better. There is no such thing as failure, and the process is focused on. 7: MASTER TEACHERS - Great coaches are Master Teachers. They can simplify the complex and provide clear and concise feedback to their players. 8: HEALTHY COMPETITIVE MINDSET - Great coaches are competitive—they have to be. But it needs to be a healthy, competitive spirit. It cannot be a win-at-all-costs mindset. Great coaches embed the life lessons and struggles learned along the way. 9: HUMBLE - Great coaches know that humility wins. They can instill confidence in their players while keeping them humble. This is a critical balance in highly successful coaches and teams. 10: BUILD LEADERS - Great coaches focus on building positive team leaders. Building culture is a coach's number one job, but building player leadership has to be number two. Great coaches know this. They have a leadership plan. ____ Do you like this post? Then, you will love my free weekly newsletter. 🏆Great Teams - Better Leaders. Read by 12,000+ other coaches and leaders each week. Subscribe below

Being a Sports Parent is Hard. Raising an Athlete is Hard. Parents: As you start this fall sports season, remember... - What you do matters. - What you say matters. - How you parent matters. As a parent, you impact the culture of the team! Here are 5 Critical Lessons for Sports Parents: 1. It is Your Child's Experience, Not Yours! Remember that this athletic journey is your child's, not yours. Allow them to own their successes AND failures. Support them without dictating their path. 2. Have a TEAM First Focus - As much as you love your child, remember it is a TEAM sport. It's all about the team, not just your child. Teach them the value of teamwork and collective success. Show them how to sacrifice ME for WE. Celebrate their teammates' Successes! 3. Embrace the Struggle of Team Sports - Accept the struggle of team sports. Embrace the highs and lows. Help your child understand the value of perseverance and resilience. Struggles are part of growth and character development. 4. Navigate, Don't Plow - Be there for support, not to clear all obstacles. Allow them to navigate challenges and learn resilience. Being a snowplow parent denies them the chance to grow. 5. Find JOY in the Journey - Find happiness in the entire sports experience. Celebrate the small victories and lessons learned. The journey’s highs and lows are equally valuable. Teach your child to cherish every moment, win or lose. _____ Do you like this post? Then, you will love my free weekly newsletter. 🏆Great Teams - Better Leaders 123. Read by 12,600+ other coaches and leaders each week. Subscribe below.

Ted Lasso isn’t just a coach; he’s a playbook on leadership. His infectious positivity and authenticity are a winning formula for any coach. He reminds us to stay curious, use humor to connect, and always be true to ourselves. Here are 7 Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso. 1: BRING POSITIVE ENERGY - Ted is incredibly positive and optimistic, even in adversity. He encourages his team to focus on their strengths and celebrate their successes, no matter how small. TL: "I do love a locker room. It smells like potential." 2: SHOW EMPATHY - Ted is empathetic and takes the time to get to know his players personally. It is all about RELATIONSHIPS with Ted. TL: "Your body is like day-old rice. If it ain't warmed up properly, something real bad could happen." 3: BE AUTHENTIC - Ted is authentic and genuine. He doesn't try to be anyone other than himself. He is honest with his players and colleagues, even when it is difficult. TL: "You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It's a goldfish. Do you know why? It's got a 10-second memory." 4: USE HUMOR - Ted has a great sense of humor. He uses it to diffuse tension and bring his team together. He doesn't take himself too seriously and encourages his players to have fun and enjoy the game. TL: "It's kind of like back in the '80s when 'bad' meant 'good.'" 5: BE COLLABORATIVE - Ted believes in collaboration and teamwork. He encourages his players to work together. TL: "I promise you there is something worse out there than being sad, and that's being alone and being sad. Ain't no one in this room alone." 6: BE A CONNECTOR - Ted is a connector of people. He understands that a connected team is a winning team. TL: "If you care about someone, and you got a little love in your heart, there ain't nothing you can't get through together." 7: BE CURIOUS! - Ted does not know it all. He does not have all the answers. He does have ALL of the questions. But he is curious! TL: "I feel like we fell out of the lucky tree and hit every branch on the way down, ended up in a pool of cash and Sour Patch Kids." _____ Do you like this post? Then, you will love my free weekly newsletter. 🏆 Great Teams - Better Leaders 123 Actionable ideas on coaching, leadership, culture, and teams. Join 12,500+ others who read each week. Subscribe in my profile.