One Essential Mindset Shift for Christian Coaches

In my transition from college coach to certified mental performance coach, I’ve learned a foundational truth that has altered everything. Your thoughts change your life. You think something, and that thought impacts your next decision, and every decision changes the course of your life. I know that feels dramatic…that every thought will change your life. This is even more true when you’ve developed a “mindset” or a patterned way of thinking.

When I was 24, I took over a college volleyball program and became the forth head coach in four years. It was terrifying, thrilling, rewarding, and exhausting. The roster I inherited had never been coached for a full year by the coach that recruited them. My primary mindset starting in this position was that I was out to prove myself as a successful coach. The problem with this mindset was that those girls became obstacles in my way when they were not helping me on my success path. I was kind, but inattentive to players I thought wouldn’t benefit me. I was selfish. This transactional way of coaching is so damaging to the self-worth of athletes and I have since apologized to many of my former athletes for those younger years of coaching. Consider if I would have adopted the healthier mindset that my purpose was to collectively create success. Even that small shift in thinking (with the word collectively) would have given power to the opinions and thoughts of those athletes. Don’t worry…I did adopt that mentality eventually, but that’s a story for another day.

C.S. Lewis calls us to consider eternity when we are aching to impact this life. Stop and pretend like you have glasses on (and if you have glasses on, you’re ahead of the game). The words “Consider eternity” are written on those glasses. Yes, that would make it difficult to see through, but what would seeing this message constantly change for you? 

As Christ followers, part of our purpose is to point others back to Jesus and help create “shalom” or the way things ought to be. (Go to this video by The Bible Project for an epic video on the word Shalom) You are uniquely created to fulfill this purpose. To aid in this adventure, ask yourself these three questions.

What is your purpose for coaching? 

What mindsets are in the way of achieving this purpose?

What thoughts will help me to achieve my purpose?

I had to be very intentional about the way I thought about my success for a while. I still had high standards for my athletes, but I adjusted my delivery (as well many other things) when I saw my primary purpose as pointing them back to Jesus. You will have to do the same. It takes time before a thought moves from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind. Give yourself grace and keep doing the next right thing.  

Action item this week: Pick a thought that will help you fulfill your purpose for coaching. For example, “Be the light in this gym”. Put it somewhere visible and commit to speaking that thought throughout your day. Remember, when a certain mindset doesn’t serve you, you are going to need to talk to yourself rather than listen to yourself for awhile (that’s deeper than you’re letting on…). 

In closing, I pray this over you. “Jesus, thank you for allowing us to play a part in your epic story. Thank you for each set of eyes reading this and I pray you draw near to them as they read even now. I pray you open their eyes to see the impact of their thoughts, words, and choices. Please equip them to grow into the coach you are calling them to be. May we love others and love you better every day. Amen”. 

I wrote a team devotional with this growth in mind. This seven day devotional has scripture tied to mental performance and culture building activities! It’s designed to grow your team closer to God, closer to each other, and to take a step forward in building a high-performing healthy culture. 

Click below for a free 7-day devotional for your team complete with culture building and mental toughness activities!