“Help! I’m too wordy as a coach!”
Written by Kirsten Ahrendt

I’ll admit, I can be wordy as a coach, I can also be wordy as a writer. I love both crafts with equal vigor. So if you want a condensed and distilled version of this article, here’s a 6-point summary. For my wellread coaches that want context and nuance, read on!

Dear Wordy Coaches….

• Stop winging it.
• Identify what you want to say before you step on the floor.
• Narrow your focus to deepen your impact.
• Stop trying to fix it all at once.
• Tell less. Ask more.
• Practice!

At the start of each Invictus University Coaching Cohort, we ask coaches to identify an aspect of their coaching that they want to improve. Without fail, at least one participant identifies that they struggle to be efficient and effective with their language; They strive to add more value to their member’s experience but are too wordy. I think a lot of coaches can relate to this – novice as well as experienced (I’m raising my hand virtually). Let’s dig into why this might be happening and some techniques and tools to address it. 

Wordiness can occur at various times when coaching. It commonly shows up as:

• Long-winded whiteboard briefs
• Complex descriptions of movement/exercises
• Complex or lengthy cueing of an individual

GET CLARITY

Getting clarity and narrowing our focus is a helpful first step in guiding efficient use of language. Whether you’re coaching an extremely technical or less technical “simple” programming day, there are opportunities APLENTY to provide coaching value – it can actually be overwhelming if you really start to dig into it. The first step to avoid giving a diatribe on 12 unique aspects of the program is to identify the 1 to 2 coaching focal points that you will review with the class. Write them on the whiteboard and address those and only those in your brief. 

“But Coach Kir, there’s other stuff that I want/need to cover in the programming to help my clients move well and be successful!”

I’m sure there is Chatty Charlie, but remember & return to the following:

1. People’s focus and attention span is only so long. it’s better to make concrete change and meaningful awareness of 1 thing than to discuss 5 that get forgotten. 
2. You cannot fix it all at once. If you could, you’d be rich and out of a job next week. (Let’s be poor and coach forever! #winkyface) You’ll have future opportunities to cover unsaid things.
3. Worry less about choosing the “right” coaching focal point and more about choosing one you’re excited/passionate to coach or one that will be of benefit to the most people! It’s great to have a different focal point from another coach’s; This diversity helps your membership have a well-rounded learning experience.

GET PREPARED TO GET IMPACTFUL

Two other common albeit polar opposite culprits that can lead to wordiness are

1) a lack of preparation (read: winging it)

2) a strong desire to add value without any parameters (read: overcoaching)  

Coaches that are unprepared do a pretty good job just frequently enough to perpetuate a bad habit. But members deserve better than to be read a whiteboard and garner no additional insight or value on how to execute it or where to direct their focus. Unprepared coaches need structure to deliver information that a member will find valuable. 

Coaches that are over-coaching are passionate and want to fix ALL of the things. But are often unrealistic about what can be an effective amount of coaching in a single session. They end up with lengthy whiteboard briefs or overcoaching individual cues. 

This is why we call it the “art of coaching” at Invictus University. Finding balance is tough. Creating clarity on what you want to coach is going to help in both instances! Here’s some tips:

OWNING THE WHITEBOARD BRIEF

1.Narrow but deepen your coaching focus

Not sure what to focus on to deliver value? Consider this list of prompts and choose ONE!

• What’s the most common movement fault you anticipate to see in the class
• What’s a point of performance that you want class to focus on
• What should the weight/reps/effort of the day FEEL like
• What muscle group is targeted (creating mind-body connection)
• What kind of strategy would you implement to increase performance

2. Write your coaching focal points down on the whiteboard

Written bullet points will serve as a visual reminder and keep you on track as well as engage visual learners.

3. Practice and refine your language

What you’re saying takes LONGER than you think. Video yourself and review what NEEDED to be said and what could’ve been covered at other times such as in a warmup, while drilling, rest interval, debrief or in an individual conversation.

4. Split A & B

I’ll admit, this one is a strong personal preference of mine, so it is laced in bias. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE remembers rep scheme advice or tactical suggestions for the last 15:00 of class when they still need to warm-up and perform part A. Consider breaking the whiteboard brief into 2 smaller segments that are more narrowly focused. Cover part A at the beginning and give a cursory overview of part B so that people know what’s coming down the pipeline. Then use a strategically executed condensed brief for part B to refocus and transition the class.

Tip: Being able to summarize the “essence” or stimulus in 1-2 sentences for part B is itself an exercise in practicing how to identify and communicate the primary stimulus of the program that we practice in Invictus University. It might sound something like this: “In part B we’re going to…”

• Work through 4 intervals with work/rest stations focused on upper body pressing endurance and muscular failure with jump rope for skill practice.

Try it out! Can you describe the class workout in 2-sentences or less?

5. Read the Room & Adapt

Have you ever had a whiteboard brief that your class is EATING UP? You’re MLK Jr but with “I have a dream….” that you will all squat with virtuosity and people are envisioning this new reality with baited breath and stars in their eyes. Then 60-min later the next class is watching paint dry (you are the paint)? Ya – I’ve been there too. Group dynamics change. Learn to pivot quickly. STFU and start the warmup. Discuss the workout in very broad strokes to them while they warm-up and revisit a shortened whiteboard brief after the warm-up.

EFFICIENT CUEING OF THE INDIVIDUAL

If there’s many faults occurring, remember we can’t fix it all at once. Try to hone in on the one that is most egregious or has the biggest impact. 

• How’s their static positions – setup, bracing, tension?
• Consider what’s happening at the beginning of a lift – what changed incorrectly first and what caused that? How will you cue them to fix that specific issue?
• Remember to coach for “improvement” not “perfection” to avoid overcoaching and overwhelm

Ask what the member felt and what they’re focused on.Whether there’s many errors or very few – ask a question like “what are you focusing on in this lift” in order to align your cue with not only  the outcome they’re seeking but to gather understanding of their knowledge. 

Be Quiet

Coaches, silence is important for processing. As my dear co-coach Fritz likes to say, “Say it once, say it less, shut up!” We often repeat the same cue using different language many times in a row.. Ask a question. Give your feedback and be quiet to let them process. If the struggle to incorporate your cue, then try finding a new way to explore it.

To all my wordy coaches out there… I see you, I am you, and lets keep striving to say less while actually delivering more!

Join Invictus University

Want to learn more coaching tips like this? Join the next cohort of Invictus University! Email Learn@crossfitinvictus.com to get on the waitlist!