The Coaching Style That Gets Results (Without the Drama)

I am not Nick Saban, and I don’t want to be. But I might want that Panama hat.

When most people think of coaches, someone like the former Alabama football coach comes to mind. On the field, headset on, barking out plays to players, yelling instructions to assistants, pulling referees aside to wonder why they missed that holding penalty.

Most people believe that getting into players’ faces is the best move, demanding they execute the play with precision. And if it’s not, then the player will face some consequences.

As a career coach, that’s not me. I’m not a yeller or a screamer, and never have been. It’s not in my nature to do so, and as an introvert, that’s exhausting just thinking about it. 

For me to be effective as a coach, I can’t show up that way for my clients. They need different things from me at different times. I have to hold space for them to be present with what they are dealing with.

And they aren’t going to respond by me yelling. They respond by me listening to them, and in some cases, even seeing them. Being seen by someone in this day and age is hard, and that’s what I’m striving to do in every session we are together.

Admonishing my clients if they didn’t follow through on the previous week’s action steps doesn’t work either. We come together, and discuss what happened. Life can get in the way, and rather than worrying about whether Coach Rich is going to take them to task, my clients know that Coach Rich will help them figure out a course of action that works for them.

One thing Coach Saban and I have in common, though, is the ability to read the field and change the play. I wrote last week that I’m not prescriptivist. I coach individuals—fully formed, fully vested human beings. I respond to what they desire, and what they need. 

And, we celebrate wins, no matter the size. A win is a win. It’s a forward step on the path. That’s how you help build momentum. Having you, the client, see and feel that consistent effort does pay off.

I don’t need to be Nick Saban to be an effective coach. I strive to be present for my clients, and walk alongside them on the path.

No headset, no yelling, no angry face needed. That Panama hat, though, might be a great accessory. 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career and health coach, trained in habit change, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals gain clarity on their career and health journeys. I invite you to click on the link, and let’s talk about how I can support you.