Unconditional love in HP Business and Sport Teams?? How about caring with conditions....

Let’s start with an unpopular opinion I've suggested for a few years: High-performance (HP) teams and organizations should not refer to themselves as families or brotherhoods. In HP teams, there are always conditions and expectations. While love, care, and consideration between leaders and athletes or teammates are essential, they must coexist with accountability and responsibility for actions and performance. How do you balance care and accountability in your relationships?

As I enter the next stages for my research in 2025, investigating the decisions and motivations of HP athletes, I’ve been reflecting on how we, as leaders, influence these traits. Where is the balance between what athletes bring in terms of intrinsic motivation and what we offer through our coaching practices? Are we creating environments that support harmonious passion, accountability, and genuine motivation?

Research on self-determination theory highlights the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation. These ingredients fuel athletes’ internal drive to master their sports and remain engaged. How do your coaching practices align with these psychological needs?

Successful coaching involves navigating social dynamics within individual and team goal-setting. This means creating scenarios and choices with care and compassion, collaboratively addressing challenges rather than avoiding them. Studies show that athlete satisfaction increases when roles and responsibilities are clear. How can you enhance clarity and communication within your team?

The core of influential coach-athlete relationships lies in mutual trust, respect, cooperation, and understanding. Positive interpersonal connections are dynamic and interlinked with cognition, feelings, and behaviours. Are you building a group climate that fosters these values?

Attunement—the ability to harmonize actions and outlooks with others—is critical in effective coaching. Coaches who emphasize democratic leadership, training, and instructional behaviours have been shown to foster higher intrinsic motivation among athletes. How attuned are you to the needs and contexts of your players?

Empathy plays a pivotal role in building enduring relationships and resolving conflicts. Applying the principles of empathy and perspective-taking can improve coach-athlete dynamics and create meaningful development opportunities for all stakeholders. How often do you incorporate empathy into your coaching practices?

Coaches should offer athletes choices, acknowledge their feelings, and involve them in decision-making. Autonomy-supportive practices allow players to drive their own development while fostering trust and commitment. How do you ensure your athletes feel empowered and valued?

As leaders, it is vital to reflect on and build interpersonal skills. Taking time to understand your athletes holistically enables you to adapt your communication and coaching strategies. Are you investing in knowing your players’ stories and contexts to better serve their development?

The art of coaching lies in knowing how and when to communicate, tailoring your approach to each individual. Empathy, understanding, and adaptability are key to creating impactful relationships. What steps will you take to strengthen your connections and improve your coaching practices?