Why I Love to Be a “Game Day” Coach

In sports, some coaches are known for their ability to build a team and to prepare their players for their games, and this longer term and slower paced aspect of coaching is an extremely important part of their jobs. They can use their competencies of studying opponents, planning practices, and teaching fundamental skills to their advantage.

But it’s not always enough: when despite all that preparation and planning the game gets close, they may be forced to react and adapt on the fly. The coaches who can do this well are known as “game day” coaches, and it’s a high compliment to be considered one.

My work is similar to that of a sports coach. I build my “team” by working on new material, which includes writing books and producing blog posts. I craft and execute my game plans by teaching classes using prepared materials. But I also do “game day” coaching: when I conduct one on one communications coaching sessions with executive clients.

What I love about doing these individual coaching sessions is that anything goes, like the difference between performing a comedy routine and doing improv. We may work on a long-term plan to improve communication skills, or we may address an upcoming critical presentation. Either way, we work with real material in real-life situations, where millions of dollars and perhaps individual careers may be at stake. On the fly, I have to evaluate the situation, ask the right questions, answer difficult questions, suggest changes, explore different approaches, etc. It’s extremely challenging, but it’s also exhilarating at the same time, for two reasons. Most important, I’ve helped a client, but second, I often feel like I have learned as much as my client has. Especially when they report back to me later that they won the game