At the end of the day you are the only one responsible for your successes and failures. Working to improve or incorporate these 5 ways to be a better athlete or coach will guarantee respect deeper than a good Fran time.

5 Ways to be a better Athlete or Coach (Right Now)

1. Communication

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” –James Hume

Usually we assume our communication efforts are fine and instead we blame the people we are trying to communicate with for not understanding. Remember, when you speak it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re sending effective messages that are understood. Whether you are a coach or athlete, communication is a two way street and understanding that is key.

2. Build people up and Cheer people on

 “How you make others feel about themselves, says a lot about you.” -Unknown

Do you take the time to understand others’ capabilities, limitations, and goals? Understanding these things will ultimately help you build up their self-esteem or inspire them to accomplish what might have been thought impossible. Remember, sometimes by having someone in your corner cheering you on and believing in you is all it takes to believe in yourself. Be the person who activates success in others.

3. Make it fun and stay humble

 “Stay true in the dark and humble in the spotlight.” – Harold B. Lee

When it comes down to it, most of our lives do not depend on CrossFit. Being stressed out and too serious will tense you up, affect your performance and probably dissolve the support around you. There’s a difference between taking something seriously and being a jerk. Have fun, dish out high fives, and eat your humble pie– it is crucial to your victory diet.

4. Learn from it all

 “The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn the more I realize, the less I know.” – Michel Legrand

Here’s a tip that you should carry with you throughout life, be open to the negative feedback and learn from every outlet possible. Guess what? Even negative feedback is part of it. Learning how to ignore the negatives or turn the negatives into a learning experience is crucial to your onward success. The criticism can be viewed as a gateway to improve. We must continually self educate and remember to consistently keep our techniques and strategies in check. 

5. Care

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” – Theodore Roosevelt

We all have a reason for doing this crazy CrossFit thing and most of the time it boils down to living life a little bit better than yesterday. Care about your process, respect your facility, and BE NICE. Want to know a secret? Experience matters, but experience doesn’t matter to anyone until they know you care. When people know you understand them and  share a vision of what they are trying to accomplish, they will be a lot more willing to trust your advice.