Having good mentors—ones who are informed about the field and invested in your success—can make all the difference in how, and how fast, you grow as a coach and advance through the profession, not to mention how satisfied you are with what you’re doing.
People with mentors often experience faster career advancement than non-mentored peers, studies show. Having a good mentor can be the difference between landing that next hot assistant-coach job and staying stuck in a role you’ve outgrown. Mentored coaches tend to perform better because they receive honest, constructive feedback, learn best practices from those more experienced, and gain insights into overcoming challenges more effectively.
If you’re a lucky assistant coach, your head coach is already serving as mentor. Regardless, you must take matters into your own hands and seek several different kinds of mentors actively.
Wise leaders are coaches who have been there, done that; they have achieved things you hope to accomplish someday and are respected within the rowing or coaching community. They are experienced in the ever-evolving challenges coaches face and are willing to share what they know—what has worked and, just as important, what hasn’t. They also have a large network they’ll tap—other head coaches, administrators, board members—when the time comes for you to plot your next move.
Peer mentors are overlooked often but just as critical to your personal development. They understand what you’re going through because they’re sharing similar experiences. Peer mentors are a great resource for bouncing around ideas in a less intimidating setting and providing a knowledgeable outside perspective. In my years of coaching, I’ve learned and grown just as much from honest, open conversations with trusted peers—competitors, even—as I have from wise leaders.
Confidantes are not so much mentors as friends and sounding boards. These are the people you can turn to without fear of judgment to bat around outside-the-box ideas, vent about challenges, and confirm gut checks. Their steady presence and sympathetic ear will help you feel less alone.
Finally, don’t be afraid to mentor yourself. Listening to your inner mentor means trusting your intuition. Sometimes it’s hard to articulate what we’re feeling deep down inside—an uneasy feeling or jolt of energy. The advantage of mentoring yourself is direct access to your history, your goals, and the reality of your current experience. By listening astutely, you can discern what next move is best.
Meanwhile, seize every opportunity to connect with others in the rowing and coaching worlds. Introduce yourself in the boatyard. Participate in athletic-department meetings. Make an effort to stay in touch with those whom you may have met only briefly but want to get to know better.
To reap the benefits of your network, put yourself out there.
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