Words from the Heart

Occasionally one is inspired to write...today was my day.  The words below are vivid memories of times long ago, but they seem like only yesterday and are forever written on my heart.  I hope they touch your heart today.

Performance Coaching

Michael Smith

Liberty University, MBA Program

March 8, 2012

Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, Mike Krzyzewski, and Dean Smith are just a few names associated with high performing, college basketball teams.  Each coach was unique; yet one characteristic was common among them all—the ability to bring out the best in each of their players, and by doing so, to win NCAA championships.  This author had a similar experience under a high school basketball coach named John Sivley.  Coach Sivley was a godly man, who first taught his players respect, trust, discipline, and how to build relationships; and secondly, to play the game of basketball.  The dedication and leadership of Coach Sivley led this player and his teammates to four consecutive Florida Christian Conference championships from 1986-1989 (see photos below).  Although the championship trophies from long ago now sit collecting dust, the memories, lessons, and examples displayed by that humble coach still linger in the mind of this student.

Similar to the game of basketball, the business field also needs coaches.  As Mahony (2010) identifies, a sporting coach wins games not by being on the court, but by effectively coaching from the sidelines; yet in the business context, coaches often get caught up in “playing on the court” and end up interfering with the performance of their team.  For many managers, coaching from the sidelines is difficult, because the manager knows how to play the game (of business), and because the manager often has the ambition, the intuition, and the experience to successfully navigate the business field.  Yet coaching is not about the manager per se, but rather about individual team members and their development, growth, and long-term success in the game of business.

Coaching is about a relationship—a “one-on-one partnership”—between a team member and a coach; the goal of this partnership is for the coach to provide support to the team member, developing behaviors that when put into practice, lead to the team member’s success (Ryan, 2009, para. 17).  Coaching is targeted, and a powerful form of development that enables a team member to achieve previously unattainable performance (Ryan, 2009).  The Bible presents a great example of coaching through Elijah’s relationship with Elisha.  Elijah coached Elisha in all aspects of faith and trust in God; and in the end, Elisha succeeded Elijah and received a two-fold filling of the spirit (2 Kings 2:9-14, NIV).

For this author, coaching relationships have proven invaluable; and while there are more business championships to win, this author is forever grateful for the business coaching provided by Dick Jackson, Kevin Camilli, Ron Gasper, Dan Berguson, and Tom Smith—who was not only the greatest coach of all, but also this author’s father and best friend.

References

Mahony, D.  (2010).  Performance coach.  People Management, 33.

Ryan, A.  (2009).  Coaching the key to effective performance.  Human Resources Magazine, 14(4), 22-23. 



Click here to read more about Coach Sivley's 545 career wins.  The
four plaques on the left of the mantle are from the OCA 1986-1989
FCC championships.  Photo by John Godbey, Decatur Daily.

This plaque hangs on my wall at home, and is identical
to the far left plaque in Coach Sivley's photo.

Coach Sivley and the six seniors (all rotating starters): Front row, left to right:

Paul Bloom, Josh Hetzel, Peter Commissiong, Mike Smith, Eric Robinson;

Second row, left to right: Coach Sivley, Jim Davis.