I’ve been in search of the next topic to write about for a few weeks now. I’ve come across several, and have written them down for future writings; however, today was a special one. It was a day I got to witness a great coach. We’ll call him Coach K for this post. He’s the coach of my son’s lacrosse team. As a mom, I witnessed greatness in leadership and coaching. We were in freezing rain together, watching our boys play their first game of the season, and I can honestly say after the first 5 minutes, I lost track of the weather and the time. I was fascinated in what showed up on the field in front of me, not only in our boys, but in the example of Coach K. I took the time today to write this letter of thanks and I’m sharing it here with you all, to be an example of inspiration for you to write your own acknowledgment letter to a great man in your life.
Please pick just one and pay it forward today! You’ll never know the difference it can make until you do!
Dear Coach K,
There are few times in life when I have witnessed mastery in person. Today was one of those days for me watching you coach our boys’ lacrosse team. I wanted to take a moment to truly thank you for following what is clearly your passion (dare I say purpose) in bringing inspiration to these young men, fellows as you call them. Whether this is something you already know about yourself or not, I felt compelled to write it down for you to read when you find yourself pondering your purpose in life, as we all do!
Both your presence and your communication as a coach and leader are inspirational and contagious. You have an uncanny ability to remain steady and focused in the fundamentals and also an ease with which you communicate in short, clear words what exactly is in need of being addressed. I heard you do it today more than once, but specifically when you reminded yourself that you hadn’t yet covered in practice man-on-man or man-down. You quickly acknowledged it to yourself, and then looked to see what there was to say and then said it to the players. It still worked!
Your ability to keep the team emotionally and mentally steady and focused. There were more than a few times I watched in awe how you swiftly complimented the players as they came off the field, not just ‘good job’, but the specifics of what was good about what they did. You said, “Way to stay with him.” “You saw it didn’t you, when he ____, you saw him _____ and then you scored. That’s exactly how it is done!”
I also watched you use your body to communicate corrections in the way they were holding their stick or in the way you placed your body next to theirs to demonstrate what they could or could not do without drawing a penalty.
Your natural ability to use your words, body and emotional state to convey swiftly the exact corrections needed, so that the players understand both that they are learning, and the specific thing to add that will impact their performance for the better is remarkable. It shows as they also are eager to come to you to get that exact thing, as they count on you to see what they yet cannot, and therefore you are growing a community of trust and inspired coaching in this group of young men.
Even the way you asked clarification questions, the way you interacted with the referee(s) when they were in the wrong and you spoke up, then immediately focused on what was to be done now, when the time should still have been running and wasn’t. All these moments were observed, and you showed your unstoppable leadership and acceptance, even when it was clearly in error. This is what it takes to lead by example.
This is exactly the performance of an outstanding coach. Your ability to coach in this way is a joy to watch. It made me ponder how am I coaching my colleagues in their performance at work. Am I emulating these traits myself? Are they coming to me to see what’s needed next? Is my demeanor when I ask clarifying questions such that people want to engage with me? Am I leading by example?
Something you may not know about me is that I’m a professionally certified life coach. I’ve seen and coached adults in their profession, much older than you who do not have 30% of what you have already in your ability to lead and coach. Please know that these traits will translate in other areas of your life, but I pray you know that among your top sweet spots is most definitely lacrosse. I beg you to continue to pursue it to the fullest degree, as I see you have what it takes to go all the way as a Coach in this sport!
It might not mean as much coming from me, as I’m not a Head Coach of ______ Lacrosse; however, I’ve spent more than 15 years as a professional certified life coach, coaching executives and entrepreneurs, and what I see in YOU is uncommon among leadership, especially among leadership in men. You are a true representation of being an outstanding example as a man. Please take this to heart! It matters that you are showing these young ones your example! It matters to me as a mom that my son has another great example of a great man in his life!
You have what it takes to go where ever you wish to go in this field! Remember not to be stopped by circumstances. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. My friend, I believe you have been equipped in this domain of coaching and learning for our boys. I couldn’t let today pass without sharing with you what I witnessed today and the impact on me as a mother, professional coach, and human being.
Thank you for your inspired leadership!
Thank you for your coaching abilities!
Thank you for choosing to be our Coach!
With great appreciation,
Toni
Toni McGillen
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