Coach or Crony?

University psychologist and researcher Carol Dweck says the “key to success in life is to adopt a ‘growth’ mindset as opposed to a ‘fixed’ one.'” She goes on to discuss results from her research on “mindsets”: “People with a fixed mindset believe their basic qualities are carved in stone, so they are concerned about making their abilities look good. Those with a growth mindset believe their basic abilities can be cultivated through dedication and education. They are more concerned about stretching themselves.”

A “crony” is a good-ole-boy (or girl) who supports another person’s status quo. Cronies don’t challenge each other. They encourage the old, safe ways and with flattery attempt to make the fixed traits of their associates look good. A coach doesn’t care if you look good or not. The effective coach strives to disrupt the status quo of those he or she works with and make them stretch. The crony makes you wary of challenges, especially if the learning involves the risk of failure. The good coach orients you toward learning and the changes that are necessary to get you from where you are to where you say you want to be, even if that involves the risk of things looking worse before they get better.

Be wary when choosing a coach who’s main technique is that of cheering and excessive praise. There is nothing wrong with encouragement and when used at the proper time, can help to solidify gains and progress. But first we need to make the changes and do the hard work of moving out of old comfort zones. A coach worth hiring knows how to work with growth minded individuals and show them the strategies of change. Then that same coach also knows how to help you maintain the changes you took the risks to make.

Interview the coach you are considering. Determine if that coach uses a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. An easy test is to know if the coach praises effort, strategy and improvement in the people he or she works with or intelligence and talent. Beware the coach who places emphasis on the later because those aspects of a person are fixed.

Paul W. Anderson,

BulletProofCoach.com