[pullquote align=”left”]Coaches that criticized, without fail, produced less energy, less enthusiasm, and more strife. [/pullquote]

I spoke recently to a few friends about their coaches from when they played sports (softball, basketball, and football). Unanimously they stated that they ran faster, jumped higher, worked out longer and tried harder every time they received praise from their coach.

If the coach complimented a layup, they jumped higher on the next layup. When their coach said, nice lap, they knew they were doing something right and doubled-down on the effort.

However, coaches that criticized, without fail, produced less energy, less enthusiasm, and more strife. Criticism did the opposite of what the coach wanted. It shuts the team down.

Criticism.

The only value it gave to the athletes was shut down.

Feedback is critical. Criticism is not.