By Shawn McQueen, Mentor for Two-Brain Group Coaching Course
This is the seventh post in our ongoing series covering the differences between good and bad coaches. If you want to catch up on the other parts of this story, do so here:
Good Coach was navigating not only coaching group classes, he was learning how to lead a team of coaches and manage the gym. His level of care, empathy, and authenticity were obvious to all he encountered. He had an unwavering and relentless pursuit to genuinely connect with people. In his free time, he studied human behavior, communication skills, and read books to improve his craft. He once said, “Having relationships and interacting with other people is something all of us will do for the rest of our lives, it would be smart to become really good in this area.” Not only was it really smart it would eventually show in his leadership.
Bad Coach had a different approach.
He was a bit more rough around his edges, a bit less unfiltered and open to expressing his opinions, no matter how radical. He didn’t lack in care for clients, but rather in approach, professionalism and making it about them versus about him.
With Creepy Coach gone out of the mix, the women were a lot happier and felt a lot safer.
Over-the-top Coach was creating a space that conflicted with the values Good Coach was aiming to create.
She was very significance driven. She needed the spotlight, was loud, at times obnoxious and also a bit immature. She would use provocative language and on top of all that, always had her cell phone handy. She had been on Good Coach’s radar for awhile for her behavior.
In his early 20’s, Good Coach had never led a team before and did not like conflict.
But Over-the-top Coach was getting worse each week. She was more of a cheerleader than a Coach.
While motivating, encouraging and relentless optimism are important attributes of a coach, when they become your sole features, value is significantly out the window.
Over-the-top Coach thought it was “cool” to take photos and videos of the class while working out, while she was the coach. The last straw came when she began taking selfies during the workout. Coaching was out the window and vanity was at the forefront. The class would be in the middle of some workout behind her, and Over-the-top Coach would turn away, put on her best smile, and go to town taking selfies.
Good Coach had had enough.
Trying to build a service that delivered value, put the member and coaching them to daily improvement first combined with professionalism at every corner, Over-the-top Coach was not a right fit for this gym.
Within a month, two coaches had been let go.
(To this day neither of them coach fitness anymore.)
So the team of 5 was now down to three: Good Coach, Bad Coach and Half-Serious Coach.
Good and Bad Coach were at the gym from the early mornings until the late nights, every single day. Bad Coach had a side job to bring in some extra income working with his father.Half-Serious Coach was an EMT and would only come down to Coach the Saturday class. Business would operate like this for 6 months, until a member expressed interest in Coaching.
Stay tuned for Part 8.