Influencers
Take home message
MENTORS ARE IMPORTANT AND COME IN MANY FORMS.
For Coaches
Everybody needs mentors. Who do you look to as a role model of how you want to coach?
For Athletes
You might need multiple mentors. One for skill development. One for their application to preparation. Another for their work off-field contributing to the community.
Mentors come in many forms. Some are obvious. As a strength and conditioning coach, some of my mentors include senior S&C coaches, local, interstate and overseas. I don’t think they would consider themselves my mentors. They probably just think we talk S&C stuff.
Some mentors are a little less obvious, but have qualities that I aspire to. Some are in research or business and display leadership and managerial qualities. And then, there are some that neither you nor they realise they are influencers.
Photo by Sabine van Straaten on Unsplash
Recently, a dear colleague passed. An amazing man. We worked together at the Force. He was ‘just’ that old guy volunteer who was the property man (side note: never judge a book by it’s cover). However, he was not just a retired old guy who loved rugby and wanted to hang out. Although we never directly talked about his life experiences, there was enough between the lines to put together the pieces of a unique and tremendous life. With his sad passing, it has provided me a rare and important pause for reflection, and the realisation of his impact on my life. There are so many unconscious behaviours, routines, mannerisms and sayings that I have integrated into my life that I can attribute to this man.
Humble. Despite his accomplishments, very few people knew his achievements. He just went about doing what needed to be done, to the best standard he could do it, and that was enough. He didn’t talk up his accomplishments. He kept high standards and went about his work. By his standards, it hardly seems me worth talking about anything I’ve done.
Humour. I have a list of his one liners in my phone. They were so good and he was so quick witted, I could not keep up and had to record them. When I found out he had passed, I whipped out my phone, found the list in Notes and within seconds I was laughing so hard I was crying (the tears were easy to flow on this occasion). It is hard to be sad at his passing when I read these. Oh, he was funny. Reflecting this week, I realise that many of his throw away one-liners I used often (“mad if you don’t!”). Every person that knew him thinks of this quality first. Despite experiencing moments most people could not even imagine, he retained a sense of humour and easy nature. I like to think that I try to see the lighter side of things more often then not and I attribute it to his influence.
Organised. Our work together at the Force was logistical. As the Assistant S&C coach, somehow I became involved in setting up every field training session, Captains Run (final training session at the ground before the match), match day preparation and match day clean-up. Not sure how this happened, but I am grateful for the experience. I spent more time with this man than I did with my boss (the Head S&C coach, from which I also learned a great deal). If you needed something done, you mentioned it once and it was as good as done. That was if you actually needed to ask - he was so organised and planned that he had it done before you actually knew there existed a task to be done! I think I am quite organised in my role now and I know for a fact that when I initially started touring with the Kookas as the S&C/Manager that I incorporated many of his routines and practices in this role, trying my best to emulate his standard. Many times on tour I actually asked myself, what would he do now.
Community. I did not know just how much he was involved until hearing story after story of his widespread influence. His involvement at his community rugby club was immense and he has left a legacy that I am sure will endure.
Amongst the many wonderful speakers on the day, one recalled a saying that I will keep close by:
The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. Thucydides
I was incredibly fortunate to share so much time with this man. Those seemingly “wasted” hours of setting up and packing away training session after training session after training session, rain, hail or shine. I did not know how special those tedious moments were.
Reflect on your mentors, your influencers, people who may have unknowingly provided you many valuable life lessons. And take a moment out of your day to say “thanks”, whilst you have the chance.
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Thanks again. BA.