In the past year at CrossFit NYC, our membership has more than doubled, as has our coaching staff. As new faces join the coaching crew, we have looked for ways to organically teach and indoctrinate the noobs. One approach we are experimenting with is quite simple: as a coach, you can take any others coach’s class and provide them with feedback when it’s over. In order for the class and subsequent conversation to be as productive as possible it’s best for the coach and visiting coach to follow a few guidelines to make sure everyone is getting the most out of the arrangement.

In class

Coach:

1. Introduce the visiting coach. Do you explain the exact conditions under which the coach is visiting or just say they’re there to workout? That’s for you and the coach to decide.

2. Run things as normal as possible. If you want honest feedback on your performance, you gotta do things the way you usually do them. Be the best version of yourself, sure, but don’t put on an act for the new audience member.

Visitor:

1. For that hour, you are just another member. Yes, most of the students will realize a coach is dropping in and that’s weird... and then they will get used to it, if you let them. Don’t put on a show, don’t make an ass of yourself- be a productive fun-loving member like everyone else and the members will come to appreciate you more for it.

2. You are not the coach. Only do the coaching that comes organically, as a result of another student asking you a question, for instance. Never take the lead; never be an example. This will draw unwanted attention to you and pull the actual coach out of their element-which is exactly what you’re there to observe.

3. You are not an auditor. Don’t carry a clipboard around and be hoity toity. Making the situation uncomfortable ruins the intent. Have fun and experience the atmosphere the coach creates, this will give you most genuine feedback for when the class is done.

4. Set a positive example for the other students. Imagine the perfect student you want taking your class on a regular basis, and then be that student.

Class is over, you’ve showered (hopefully) and it’s time to have the conversation you came for. Something came up and one of you has to run? Dang it. Visitor- write down your notes so you don’t forget anything and look forward to chatting the next day. This may actually be a good thing, as it will give both parties more time to absorb what they experienced.

Once you’re sitting down, make sure you’re both comfortable and that it’s okay if anyone in earshot overhears, and then go for it.

The conversation

Coach:

1. Be ready to listen & learn. If you want to become a better coach, you must want constant, in-depth feedback. Be ready to get it, and don’t be too sensitive. Your visitor is doing their best to not be offensive; cut them some slack if you think their phrasing is a bit harsh.

2. Don’t be defensive. If the visitor shares one of their observations and you immediately think, “I had a perfectly legitimate reason for making that decision,” stop and remind yourself- if a visitor thinks you’re doing one thing and questions it, so does a member. The best intentions don’t matter if that is not the group’s perception.

3. Ask questions. Don’t understand a comment or need an idea fleshed out more? Ask for it. This is your chance to learn and be challenged, so make sure you’re getting the healthy dose of input you need.

4. Be open-minded. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat. You have a bunch of ways that work well for you; don’t be afraid to learn more.

5. Get what you need. Don’t leave this conversation wishing for more. Get the concrete actions steps you need before saying goodbye.

Visitor:

1. Be ready to listen & learn. This is not your chance to shit all over a fellow coach. It’s just as much a learning opportunity for you. You’re engaging in a conversation, not a lecture. Hear and be heard, and follow the golden rule.

2. Assume the best. Assume every action is a conscience decision of a caring coach. When you find out they slipped up, challenge them to stay on their game. When you have an idea on a better way to achieve a goal, share it.

3. Start with the positives. “I really enjoyed...” “I was impressed by...” “I thought it was creative that you...” These phrases are all great hooks, the coach knows you admire and respect them and truly want to build them up, not tear them down.

4. Enhance, don’t replace. You are not trying to turn this coach into yourself or “the ideal coach,” you are making suggestions that move them towards the best versions of themselves. Learn what they’re good at and strengthen those aspects. Do they need a more diverse set of tools in their belt? Let them know of techniques that may work well for them. Having a gym full of unique coaches working towards the same goal helps existing members and attracts new ones.

5. Take your time. Get it all out at a pace that is absorbable. You may think of something new if you give yourself a chance to hear what’s coming out of your own mouth.

6. Challenge them. You get stronger by moving more weight than you did last time, you get faster by moving faster than you did last time, you become a better coach by... caring more, listening more, thinking more, becoming more efficient, laughing more, learning new cues then using them effectively... this list could go on forever. Every tactic has a season. Challenge the coach to choose a way to push themselves, and then stick with it.

7. Provide takeaways. “They said so much great stuff, but now I don’t know what to focus on!” This response is the worst possible ending. Always provide constructive ways to follow through with your ideas. If you don’t have a concrete way off in mind, discuss it with the coach. Their input should provide a great way to tackle the beast.

Coach, hopefully you walk away from this conversation feeling rejuvenated. How do you begin to implement these new ideas? One at a time. In your next class, focus on one takeaway and find out how to implement it multiple times during that class. Repetition produces habits.

Coaching is like working out. You can’t do every workout at 100 percent, all the time. It’s unsustainable and ineffective over time. If you’re working really hard to get through a class, you are doing too much and need to adopt practices that allow you to chill out. 85 percent produces results that are good for everyone, 65 percent is slacking. Just like with exercise, push yourself but play it smart. (One of my students put it this way: “Kill yourself but don’t die.”)

Improving as a coach is a series of steps in one direction- becoming the best version of yourself. Let others help you along the way. It’ll make it easier and more fun.