Great management combined with visionary leadership achieves the best results. Seems obvious right? So how on earth do so many organisations get it wrong, especially when change is needed? There are fundamental differences between management and leadership that apply to any organisation or team. However, the primary focus of this article is to look at the strengths of each because they refer to leading change in any organisation.

The Fundamental Differences

Management is necessarily a set of processes and systems that are designed for problem-solving, staffing, budgeting, and organising. Achieving the best results for an organisation whereas leadership defines the mission, vision, and what a win will look like shortly. This inspires a team to embody the behaviours and beliefs necessary to take action required to achieve those results.

Successful transformations happen when great management converges with visionary, strong leadership. Both are required to plan accordingly, create a clear path, and see a mission plan to achieve fulfilment. Every organisation, small or large, need change more than ever before. Not in a reactive manner but instead in a proactive approach that is embedded in the culture of the organisation. The communication of the overall vision never actually ends when there’s a changing process. It’s infused into every aspect of what managers and leaders do.

However, it’s vital to note the differences between management and leadership, as they relate to the roles the task force of the transformation must take on. A task force of the change is mostly the guiding body created to lead a company or organisation through its transformation. The task force must include front-line managers, senior leaders, and other key members that are respected in their field of expertise.

Most companies and organisations still focus on management development as oppose to leadership development. However, most companies believe its leadership development that they are accomplishing. Individuals might be able to embody both disciplines and qualities. It’s scarce to find someone that is a competent manager and a great visionary leader, and vice versa.

The Power of Management and Great Leadership Combined

When an organisation has poor management capability but great visionary leadership, the overall transformation will only get so far. However, when an organisation has poor visionary leadership but great management capability, the overall vision won’t be powerful enough and will be flawed. Alternatively, it won’t even develop to be completely honest. With marginal management and great leadership, the change will have some significant gains, but it will eventually slow down.

True magic occurs when there’s solid management along with great leadership. There’s no denying that change is a messy business and its never perfect. It usually takes longer than expected, and it’s more costly than initially anticipated. However, with visionary leaders that are supported by phenomenal management, winning results are bound to occur within a company or an organisation.

Mentoring and coaching use the same approach and skills. However, coaching is considered short-term task-based, while mentoring is regarded as a long-term relationship. The CIPD differentiates between counselling, mentoring, and coaching. You will also need to keep in mind that these differences are usually delivered by individuals with different relationships and qualifications with their client. The differences between mentoring and coaching can be summarized as follows:

Mentoring

Mentoring is an ongoing relationship that can last for a more extended period. It could be more informal, and meetings are scheduled when the mentee needs support, guidance, or advice. It takes a much broader view of an individual. A mentor is usually more qualified and experienced than the mentee. A senior person within the organisation can generally pass on experience, knowledge, and will be able to open doors to out-of-reach opportunities. The primary focus is on your personal and career development. The mentee sets the agenda, while the mentor offers guidance and support to prepare them for roles in the future. Mentoring is more focused on developing the professional career of the mentee.

Coaching

Relationships usually have a set duration of time. They are often more structured in nature, while meetings are scheduled quite regularly. Short-term and focused on specific development issues or areas. Coaching is usually not performed on a specific basis where the coach is required to have experience of the formal occupation in the client’s role unless the coaching is skills-focused and specific. The focus is primarily on issues at work or development The agenda is focused mainly on achieving immediate, specific goals. Coaching is based on specific development issues or areas.

Mentoring and Coaching Processes

Management and individual development can occur in several forms, some delivered by external and internal mentors or coaches and some by managers. The different activities are defined as follows:

Guiding – The process of directing a group or individual along a path that leads them from a present state to a more desired state.

Coaching – Assisting another individual to improve awareness, setting and achieving goals to develop a specific behavioural performance.

Teaching – Assisting a group or individual to develop cognitive capabilities and skills.

Mentoring – Assisting to shape an individual’s values and beliefs positively, usually a career relationship over the long term for someone who has done it in the past.

Counselling – Assisting an individual to help them improve performance which can be achieved by resolving situations and scenarios from their past.

Difference between Coaching and Counseling

Coaching is narrower focused, while counselling is in greater depth and broader focused. With coaching, the primary goal is to improve the performance of an individual at work, while counselling is to assist people in understanding the root of their issues or performance at work. Coaching is a short-term intervention, while advice is also considered a short response but can last for long due to the nature of issues that need to be addressed. With coaching, the agenda will be set by an individual, while counselling allows the schedule to be set by both counselor and the individual.

Every team requires leadership. During difficult situations, players tend to search for a leader within their team, but unfortunately, not everyone has the skillset to successfully lead a team. It requires a special set of characteristics to make it as a sports leader. If you are interested in taking on the mantle within your team, ensure you tick all the requirements below.

Set An Example

As an authority figure and leader, your team members will follow you on any behavioural path of your choosing. Therefore, its vital that you head down the correct pathway for the good of the team. If you are seen raving and ranting at officials and players, or with your head down, or just conduct yourself in a very negative manner, your team members will behave in the same manner. The hardest workers tend to be the best leaders on the pitch which makes them the most respectful in the process.

Awareness

Awareness is key as a team leader. There’s more than one method when it comes to leadership. A wide range of external factors should influence the approach you decide to take in various scenarios. Spending time with your teammates to build a relationship creates awareness. You need to learn how to react to certain tones and styles. If you suffer a horrible defeat, does your team members react better to a couple of harsh words. Or are the ones that require an arm around the shoulder while they lick their wounds?

Passion

Any sport comes with a great deal of passion. You will feel the same range of emotions on the pitch each and every weekend: disappointment when you are defeated and euphoria when you win. As a leader of your team, you will need to embody the positive end of those emotions, including passion, dedication, and commitment, to steer your team towards their own personal goals.

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a similar quality to passion in a lot of ways and is a vital characteristic for a team leader which can be displayed in several ways. Out on the field, enthusiasm is getting to every ball first and providing encouragement to your team members, or simply motivating your team when things are looking down. Encouragement also encompasses your behaviour on a daily basis as a leader for your team and will usually be more important in the long run.

Ability

Coaches, or leaders of a team, will live and die by the decisions they make. As the implementor and creator of a strategy, or a key figure when it comes to decision making, you are required to have the ability and knowledge to stand by your convictions. Leaders are usually elevated into their roles due to their ability. Without the necessary abilities, your authority will immediately become undermined. You will need to strive for skill improvement which will place you in a better position to lead a team. This will also set a perfect example for others to improve their own abilities.

A glimpse and a self-study on assistant coach educational credentials, skills, and responsibilities are just some of the requirements we will look at in this article. The hope is it will enable you to take your career path to the next level. For those that are interested in becoming an assistant coach, you’ve come to the right place. This will allow you to do a quick check to see if you meet all the requirements to become an assistant coach.

Assistant Coach

An assistant coach is essentially a professional whose responsibilities include instructing, guiding, and motivating the sports team while delivering quality coaching to each and every athlete. The duties of an assistant coach include new strategies and developments to formulate effective training protocols.

Responsibilities of an Assistant Coach

•    Supporting the head coach to provide quality coaching which is achieved by motivating the athlete’s ability.

•    Be well-informed of strategies and rules in favour of the team and its players.

•    Assisting the head coach to keep statistics of players, compiling eligibility reports, and making new registrations.

•    Supervising players to overcome their weak areas and to enforce the spirit of the game.

•    Maintaining discipline among players and to assist them in perfecting their skills in both offensive and defensive positions.

•    Work in conjunction with fitness instructors to ensure each athlete delivers their best.

•    Watch and support the development activities of the club and provide equipment to all players.

•    Motivating players to enjoy a free game while building confidence during a loss or keeping players grounded during a win.

Assistant Coach Skill Requirements

•    An assistant coach is required to have in-depth knowledge of the game they wish to specialise in.

•    An assistant coach must have great motivation skills to ensure players deliver their best.

•    Must have an excellent rapport with both the head coach and the members of the team.

•    Must stay well-informed when it comes to new strategies and ensure the team can perfect it in time.

•    Must contain team spirit and must be able to infuse the team spirit into each player or athlete.

•    Must be able to see weaknesses or mistakes by each player and must be able to overcome those mistakes by helping the player.

•    Must have an optimistic approach to encourage each player to deliver better performance.

Assistant Coach Credentials

Apart from the skills and responsibilities of an assistant coach, you will also need the necessary educational qualifications. This will essentially need to consist of a High School Diploma as well as loads of coaching experience. Your all-round knowledge and love for the game will also count when you apply for an assistant coach position. Seeing that this is basically a senior position, you will also need experience in matches on either an international, national or local level.

Assistant Coach Career Scope

If you meet all the requirements and experience mentioned above, there is no reason why you will not be able to choose the career path of an assistant coach. Good Luck!

A sports coach essentially organises professional and amateur athletes while teaching them the fundamentals of a specific sport. They also need to train them to compete individually or as a team. You will also find coaches that are required to recruit new players for professional and college teams.

Quick Facts about Sports Coaches

•    In 2015, the annual earnings for a sports coach were around $31,000.

•    Combined with athletic scouts, sports coaches held around 251,000 jobs during 2014.

•    Most sports coaches worked at educational institutions, such as colleges and high schools, while others worked for community organisations.

•    Sports coaches have a fantastic job outlook as employment will grow just as fast as average occupations through to 2024.

Job Duties

There are typical job duties that sports coaches need to excel in to become a successful coach for an athlete or team, including:

•    Problem solving

•    Assistance in recruiting and scouting activities

•    Instruct and teach all aspects of the sport

•    Foster great character and promote sportsmanship in student athletes

•    Supervise students in locker rooms and practice areas

•    Establish rapport and encourage athlete participation

•    Maintain uniforms and equipment

Educational Requirements

Coaches in high schools or colleges are usually teachers which means they are required to meet all qualifications for their occupation. This means they will need a bachelor’s degree at the very least. Degrees that specifically relate to coaching will often include sports medicine, physical education, fitness and nutrition, kinesiology, physiology, sports science, and exercise.

Most employers will usually expect that the coach they hire to have experience in the sport they wish to coach. Those that worked in public schools, such as high schools, must be certified. This usually requires training in first aid and CPR as well as coaching fundamentals and sports safety.

How to Advance As a Sports Coach

It’s highly likely that you will start your coaching career as an assistant coach. Once you gained the necessary experience and knowledge, you will have a greater chance of becoming a head coach. If you are interested in competing at the highest level of a sport in school, you will be required to have substantial experience as an assistant or head coach from a smaller school. However, if you are interested in coaching a professional sport, you will need years of experience along with a winning record to get anywhere.

What Employers Will Expect From You

Apart from gaining the necessary experience and skills to become a coach, most employers will also look for other qualities before they will hire you. These qualities include:

•    Attention to accuracy and detail as well as demonstrating an organisational ability

•    Must be able to give precise and clear directions

•    Must have good judgment and safety awareness

•    Positive, fun, and enthusiastic attitude

•    Must have knowledge of diverse populations and cultures

•    You will be required to immerse yourself in a specific sport and ensure that you are up-to-date with the latest techniques and training methods to excel

•    A background check is always required