One of our trainers said this TED Talk, Want to get great at something? Get a coach, by Atul Gawande, really impacted him about the importance of seeking a coach for himself. I agree.
To become great at something can’t be done solo. We need others in the form of mentors, teachers, and coaches.
Gawande asks how we improve in the face of a complex world.
He shares what he’s found to be the key: having a good coach to provide a more accurate picture of our reality, to instill positive habits of thinking, and to break our actions down and then help us build them back up again.
“It’s not how good you are now; it’s how good you’re going to be that really matters,”
Gawande says. Getting better is about improving on how we do things today.
Gawande says there are two views:
- Pedagogical view: Go to school, study, practice, learn, and graduate. Then you go out into the world and make your way on your own. Professionals are people who are able to manage their own improvement. You learn ways of thinking and learning so you can make your own way in the world.
- Sports view: You are never done. Everyone needs a coach; someone you pay to observe and critique you.
There are numerous problems with the pedagogical view. Mainly, you get blindsided. You don’t recognize the issues standing in your way. Or, if you do, you don’t know how to fix them. Mental training wise, this is a big trap. Unless you get help training your mind, you’ll believe what it tells you. You’ll be caught in a confirmation bias that goes unnoticed.
The sports view offers you a whole new level of awareness. Coaches share different perspectives that remove your blinders. They help you communicate better, to balance speaking up with active listening, a critical skill for building connections and relationships. Coaches are your external eyes and ears that give you a more accurate view of reality.
The Warrior’s Way seeks to fill this capacity for you.
We provide an alternative view that helps you notice what’s going on in your mind so you can become aware. Then, from that awareness, you can take decisive action in new directions, to create supportive new behaviors.
