"Kindness is infectious, we never know what kind of impact we can have on another person" - a conversation withTroy Urdahl
Oct 28, 2024
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Troy Urdahl, an award-winning high school athletic director, hall of fame coach, and author of "Chasing Influence," discusses the profound impact of kindness in sports and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of multi-sport participation and explores how building relationships can nurture resilience and personal growth in athletes. Troy advocates for a coaching philosophy centered around purpose and soft skills, stressing that true leadership is about serving others and creating environments where kindness flourishes.
Troy Urdahl emphasizes the importance of balancing high expectations with compassion to cultivate resilience and personal growth in athletes.
The podcast advocates for multi-sport participation, arguing that early specialization can hinder athletes' overall development and well-being.
Urdahl stresses the significance of understanding the 'why' behind coaching to foster meaningful relationships and a supportive team culture.
Deep dives
Growing the Podcast's Impact
The host emphasizes the goal of expanding the podcast's audience to increase its impact on listeners' lives. Personal messages from the audience indicate that the content has positively influenced their relationships and professional paths. To achieve this growth, the host encourages listeners to share the podcast through various channels, including social media and personal connections. By increasing subscriptions and downloads, the podcast can invest in improving content quality and frequency.
Insights from Sports Experience
Troy Erdahl shares his journey in sports, rooted in a family of Hall of Fame coaches, illustrating a lifelong commitment to athletics. His experience spans multiple sports from childhood through college, reflecting a multifaceted approach that contrasts with modern trends favoring specialization. Erdahl highlights the detrimental effects of early specialization on injury rates and overall athletic development. He advocates for cultivating well-rounded athletes, suggesting that participation in various sports enhances skills and reduces the gap between elite and average athletes.
Redefining Coaching Culture
Erdahl discusses the critical role of understanding purpose in coaching culture, emphasizing that programs should align with educational missions. By focusing on developing life skills—such as empathy and teamwork—coaches can foster strong relationships that have enduring impacts. The host and Erdahl stress that winning should not be the sole focus; instead, coaching should aim to develop well-rounded individuals. The necessity of clear communication about culture and priorities among coaches is crucial in maintaining alignment and effectiveness.
Cultivating Kindness and Support
Erdahl underscores the transformative power of kindness within sports, presenting it as a vital component of leadership and coaching. He shares anecdotal experiences that illustrate how small acts of kindness can have profound ripple effects on teammates and the larger community. By fostering an environment of support, coaches can create spaces where athletes feel empowered and valued, leading to better personal growth and teamwork. Furthermore, by emphasizing the importance of a supportive atmosphere, Erdahl encourages coaches to balance high expectations with compassion.
Finding Your Why in Coaching
The podcast highlights the importance of coaches clarifying their 'why,' as it lays the foundation for effective leadership. Erdahl draws on insights from Joe Ehrman's work to prompt reflection on coaching motivations, emphasizing that coaching should not only be about winning. He shares reflective questions that coaches can use to define their purpose, promoting a growth-oriented mindset over a defeatist one. The conversation suggests that understanding one's purpose not only enhances coaching effectiveness but also enriches overall personal relationships.
Troy Urdahl is an award winning high school athletic director, a hall of fame coach and a college professor with more than twenty years experience in leadership and coaching. He is now an accomplished author of a fantastic book called 'Chasing Influence' which uses storytelling as a means to put forward lessons about leadership.
Troy shares his journey from a sports-filled childhood to advocating for multi-sport participation, and delves into the philosophy of coaching with an emphasis on 'why' we coach and building life skills through sports. We talk about the balance between high expectations and support, the power of resilience, and the significance of 'soft skills' in coaching. Additionally, discover concepts like the Finnish notion of 'Sisu' (which roughly translates into 'never giving up'), allyship in sports and Troy's thoughts on the universal value of creating a culture that prioritises relationships over winning.
Hope you enjoy.
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