Ep 65 - Real Coaches, Real Problems: Decisions That Protect You – “Every yes is a no to something else”

In this episode of Real Coaches, Real Problems, there are no sets, no reps and no force plates. This one is about you as the practitioner. With athletes, we set the criteria before the moment, return-to-play markers, running progressions and traffic-light systems all exist so that the decision protects the athlete when the pressure is on. Yet so many coaches I mentor run themselves the opposite way, they agree a salary on the spot, say yes to extra work while the person asking is standing in front of them, and let the day decide how they feel when they walk through the front door. First is knowing your number. I explain how to work out your real hourly rate, why you should take facts rather than feelings into any pay conversation, how to negotiate the terms and not just the salary, and why you need to know your walk-away point before you walk in. Next is setting your criteria before any request lands. Before you say yes, ask three questions: what’s the deliverable, how long will it take, and how much of my role is this? I share a simple script for saying no, and explain how setting expectations early removes the guilt later. Finally, there’s deciding how your day ends. I cover the difference between replaying and reflecting, a five-step reflection you can use on your way home, and why “what happens if I do nothing until the morning?” is one of the most useful questions you can ask. They’re all linked. If you don’t know your value, you won’t set boundaries. If you don’t set boundaries, you can’t switch off. Make one of these decisions well and the others get easier. Want help building a clearer philosophy, sharper programme design or more confidence in the applied setting? Find out more about our mentorship here: https://collaboratesports.com/bespokementorship   Collaborate 360 Performance Workshops: Game Speed with Ruth Waghorn This episode is about making the right decision at the right time in your career. This workshop applies the same idea to movement. Our first regional workshop is on Wednesday 28th October, 6–9pm, at Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield, led by Ruth Waghorn, Physical Performance Coach at the FA. It isn’t a night of new drills. It’s a coaching approach to game speed, built around the actions and behaviours that decide outcomes in your own sport. Only a few places are left. Book now: www.collaboratesports.com/workshops