by Mike Davenport, Coaching Sports Today
Did you know you can improve your recruiting between the time you wake up and the time you eat your breakfast?
For some of you that’s only a few minutes — or less. Maybe you just grab a banana going out the door.
Regardless, you can improve your recruiting no matter how short that time is.
“How?” you ask…
First . . . are you sure you want to improve?
Some coaches don’t. Seriously.
Maybe they know it all. Or have a set plan and don’t want to deviate. Or can’t be bothered. Or are just too dang busy to have more recruits to deal with..
Ah, but for you improvement-oriented coaches there is a way to get better…(regardless of your sport)
It just takes a very few minutes…(you don’t have to buy a thing)
And the impact on the quality of your recruiting and the enjoyment you have could be profound.
Breathe for better recruiting
The trick, if you want to call it a trick…is simply to BREATHE
Or rather to watch-your-breath. It’s that simple. Seriously.
The breath that goes in-and-out of your lungs can make a significant difference in your recruiting.
Actually, It’s the thinking about your breath that is the key.
Some call this “meditation.” Others may call it “mindfulness.”
I call it “breathing” because that is what it is, pure and simple.
Spending five-minutes, three-minutes, even just one-minute sitting still and concentrating on your breathing can help you find a peace-of-mind, a clarity, that can improve your day.
That can help you be in a calmer, more focused mindset. And that can certainly help you do a better job of recruiting, and about anything.
I’ve been practicing this form of breathing for years and, honestly, it has helped me be more effective and find a greater joy in all aspects of whatever I am doing.
And several times solutions to recruiting struggles appeared while I was just breathing. Solutions I would have missed.
How, when and where to better recruiting
The process is simple:
- during every inhale-and-exhale focus on the breath going in-and-out
- when your mind brings up the latest “crisis” or “bright-and-shiny” distraction (which it will) gentle ask it to wait
- then go back to thinking about your breath.
Eyes open, eyes closed — I haven’t found it to matter.
In the morning, afternoon, evening. Standing, sitting at a red light, in the shower — no difference.
Try it for 10 breaths, or five or even three. Notice anything? Nothing big, but maybe something?
Try it when you feel stressed, or distracted, or upset (That never happens in coaching, does it?).
This won’t work for all of you, but for some of you who try it your breath could be a nice tool to put into your coaching tool box, especially for when things get crazy.
Better recruiting by breakfast — and a side of toast.
Order up.