by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
As coaches, we all know what it’s like to feel busy. There’s always a to-do list, meetings, practices, and recruiting. But staying busy isn’t the same as being productive. Productivity is about checking the right things off the list and making progress toward your bigger goals.
In this two-part series, I want to share some of the habits of highly productive people. These aren’t just general coaching or time managment tips — they directly apply to your life as a coach and the success of your program. Let’s dive into the first steps toward becoming more productive:
1. Start with Goals
Effort without purpose is just effort. Effective coaches don’t just know what to do; they know why they are doing it. They have long-term goals for their program and break those down into short-term goals that support the bigger picture.
Having a clear purpose makes you appear dedicated and organized because your actions are intentional. You’re not just following a routine; you’re driven to reach those goals, cutting out distractions and roadblocks along the way. Decide what success looks like for you, and you’ll find it easier to stay focused and effective.
2. Create Systems to Reach Your Goals
While setting goals is crucial, having a system to achieve them is just as important. As a coach, your system might include recruiting plans, practice schedules, or operations. A goal gives you direction, but a system helps you make progress every day.
Everyone has goals, but committing to a system is what separates the productive from the busy. It’s not enough to just want a winning program; you need to design a process that gets you there.
3. Believe in Yourself
Let’s face it, coaching is… hard. The diligence you need to stick to it can be exhausting, especially when the wins seem few and far between. But the most productive people keep pushing forward because they truly believe in themselves. They know that their efforts will pay off, even when the results are slow.
While others may give up, productive coaches embrace the grind and keep going. They don’t just hope for success; they know it’s only a matter of time before their hard work pays off.
4. Take Control of Your Results
It’s easy to blame outside forces when things go wrong. Maybe the refs made bad calls, or you just got unlucky in a game. But highly productive people don’t waste time on what they can’t control. Instead, they take full ownership of their success (or failure) and focus on what they can control: their actions, mindset, and effort.
If you spend energy worrying about luck, you’re wasting time. Instead, focus on the things within your control — your actions today will shape your results tomorrow.
By focusing on your goals, creating effective systems, and taking ownership of your results, you’re laying the foundation for a more productive coaching life. These habits are the first steps to getting out of that “busy” trap and truly making progress.
In the next part of this series, we’ll explore more habits of highly productive coaches, like embracing randomness, working with others, and making better decisions. Stay tuned for actionable tips that will take your productivity to the next level! You can also find more productivity training and resources at Busy.Coach.