The most challenging part of being a coach, teacher, or parent isn’t convincing your people to change their behaviour. It’s getting them to stop doing what they’re doing in that moment.
Vice versa applies here—and it’s worth the Latin. Vice meaning “in place of” or “change place.” Versa means “turned.” The relationship can be flipped and remain valid.
Adopting a better habit is one thing. Letting go of a bad one is harder.
In coaching, it’s not encouraging players to employ sound technique. They all want to score more runs, take more wickets. It’s getting them to stop using bad technique.
This is why learning requires a willingness to let go. We can know what we need to do differently and still struggle to stop doing what we’ve always done. Sound familiar?
Teachers, leaders, organisers, and coaches have just two jobs. The first, and hardest, is to earn trust. The second, much easier, is to teach.
If the player is unwilling to change—afraid to let go of what they’re holding on to—then getting better is going to be difficult.
What have you struggled to stop doing, even when you knew it was holding you back?
Nick
