Coaching Poker

There are many viewpoints and opinions about coaching practice. The variety of viewpoints has got wider with more and more people offering ideas through social media and books. The academic community doesn't help either - they have a tendency to want to avoid being clear on particular issues. If they do take a strong position, they are criticised by their peers as being 'dogmatic' or 'evangelical'.

So where does that leave the coach or the person designing the syllabus for professional?

The Challenge of Choice

Some have suggested that we should adopt an 'it depends' approach, suggesting that the use of professional judgement is a way that coaches can navigate the complexity of the coaching journey. This middle ground of 'it depends' is appealing on the surface. It suggests we can pick the best bits from different approaches and create something that works. This seems sensible - after all, why limit ourselves to one way of thinking or acting?

But this creates problems. If we believe certain approaches work better than others, using less effective methods some of the time means we're knowingly choosing sub-optimal practice. Equally, we can't believe two things about the world at the same time. You can't believe that the world is flat and confidently walk to the edge of the horizon safe in the knowledge that if you keep walking for long enough you will arrive back where you started. Likewise, you can't call yourself a vegan and have the odd bacon sandwich! 'It depends' isn't really that helpful...

A Simple Way to Think About It

I think about coaching philosophy like betting at poker:

Small Bet Coaches: Put minimum commitment into any approach. They keep their options open, using bits from everywhere. They're playing it safe. There is minimal risk and they are prepared to accept that the payoff might not be that great.

Medium Bet Coaches: Show stronger commitment to particular approaches based on evidence and experience, while maintaining some flexibility. It is a strategy that has some risks as mixing approaches might come across as inconsistent to athletes it also might not work that well. But this is a 'managed risk' approach with uncertain pay offs.

All-In Coaches: Commit fully to approaches they believe work best. They've studied the evidence and integrated it into their practice. There may be higher risk if you are wrong but they believe that the pay off is better in the long run.

The Reality of Choice

This isn't just about methods - it's about the theories that make the most sense to us and using them to enable us to have a clear rationale for why we do what we do the way that we do it? We can be honest in our practice and honour our philosophy. If we truly believe certain approaches work better, we face a clear choice:

1. Commit fully to what we believe works best

2. Mix approaches knowing some might be less effective

3. Admit we're unsure and explore different approaches while being open with participants about this

A way to avoid paralysis

The biggest danger is that the uncertainty could lead us to paralysis but it need not be that way. Whichever route we choose has it's own pro's and cons. So in order to move forward we could follow these guidelines below so that we can move forward in the most ethically rigorous way possible:

• Be clear about our position

• Involve participants in choices about their development and the approach we are taking

• Focus on meeting real needs (for more on 'needs led' coaching check out my new podcast collaboration with Mark Bennett MBE from PDS and take advantage of his special Christmas offer PBNO25 to join his online learning community for 25% off)

• Design learning environments that match our beliefs and be consistent

Moving Forward

Being clear about our position doesn't mean being inflexible. It means:

• Understanding why we choose certain approaches

• Being honest about our choices

• Staying open to new evidence and working out if that evidence maps with our theoretical approach and worldview.

Key Points for Coaches

1. Be Informed: Know what you believe about how people learn and develop. Make choices based on this understanding.

2. Stay Honest: Make sure your methods match your beliefs. Don't mix approaches just because it feels safer.

3. Be Open: Tell learners about your approach and help them understand why you coach the way you do.

4. Keep Learning: While staying committed to what you believe works, stay open to new ideas and evidence.

5. Take Action: Choose your approach and commit to it properly rather than trying to please everyone.

The question isn't whether to commit to an approach, but whether we're willing to stand behind our understanding of how people learn and develop. You can mix methods but you can't mix theories. Having weighed up the possibilities...I've come to the conclusion that one approach has far more promise than others. I don't pretend that it is perfect theoretically, nor do I think that it has a complete perspective on every challenge that I face as a developmental practitioner. Nor would I say to anyone that this is the only way (contrary to what some commentators would have you believe!). What I would say is that it is the only way for me...and I am prepared to go all in. I can’t keep two contradictory ideas about human development in my mind at the same time…it doesn’t feel honest, intellectually rigorous or ethically appropriate.

I defend anyone’s right to take their own stance on this…as long as they’ve done a bit of digging and come to a conclusion…that’s good enough for me.

Just don’t take the easy way out and too easily accept the words of those who will tell you that you can have your theoretical cake and eat it too!

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I support and advise organisations and professionals who are looking for better ways to design and develop learning solutions for practitioners in sport, business and education. If you would like to set up a free consultation to explore these ideas then please get in touch on my contact page.