The phrase “who cares?” is usually used as a dismissive comment. If you are a coach this is a really important question.
“Do you care about me?” is one of the three key questions attributed to Lou Holtz that people want to know about one another. If the answer to that question is ‘no’, then it it is essentially a dealbreaker for the relationship.
One of the most common responses to a survey I sent out to my coaching clients earlier this year was that the coach needs to demonstrate that he cares about the client. This care can be shown in a number of different ways.
- The coach asks (among other questions) about your current ability, ambitions, game strengths and weaknesses and what frustrates you most about your game.
- The coach does his homework prior to the lesson, so knows your progress, the key points you have covered in the past and your plan or progression for upcoming lessons.
- The coach offers encouragement and support especially when you are not progressing at the rate that you would like to.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. I’m not quite sure where this quote came from but it has been attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt and John C Maxwell. Regardless of who originally said it, it is a great quote about the importance of the relationship in any coaching setting. When I think about the friendships I have I recognise the importance of this statement as well.
Showing you care is really a selfless act, but the rewards that are returned to you because you care prove that it is a fruitful investment in any relationship development.
As a coach I care about every one of my clients and take great pride in the improvements as well as understanding their frustrations as we worked together to find a way to move their golf forward.
If you are a coach, how well do you rate yourself on the caring question?