Stage Fright

Stage Fright

Bovington RAC Saddle Club

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recently hosted another well attended BHS training day, where I was fortunate to be the trainer.

Such an enthusiastic and curious group of people!

And yet….

I’m often struck by the reluctance of trainee coaches (and this day was was pitched at a high level) to step up and teach in front of others.

Don’t get me wrong - I totally sympathise. I so well remember that feeling of getting it wrong; making a fool of yourself; imposter syndrome; lacking the knowledge, the confidence, the ‘eye’ to spot what matters.

We call it ‘Stage Fright’ and every actor, presenter or teacher has experienced it at some point. Most still do.

Perhaps with the exception of those very few who are blissfully unaware of their level of competence!

Over twenty years ago Malcom Gladwell published ‘Outliers: The Story of Success’, in which he introduced us to the 10,000 hours concept.

The principle (which - no surprises - had recently been challenged) is that in order to gain mastery of a skill we need to achieve about 10,000 hours of practice.

That’s 8 years of regular teaching, 5 hours a day, 5 day weeks, without a break, so realistically probably 10 years.

Of course, it also implies regular mentoring and realistic feedback to make sure we’re on the right track. Otherwise, we get very good at teaching badly!

No wonder it’s a bit scary starting out.

But, at some point, we’re going to have to take a leap of faith.

What an enlightened mentor (like Coaches for the Future) does is to create is a safe space to take that leap, providing a safety net which allows mistakes, even failures, and encourages people to dive in and start the process of mastery.

It’s sometimes frustrating. We seem to have to just started to get the hang of a concept when a rider, a horse or an observer seems to totally challenge our fragile skill.

Don’t be disheartened. That’s the process.

Ask, listen and learn. Have another go.

That’s the way of growth.

Here’s a couple of tips:

Keep asking questions until together you find a way forward.

This builds trust and collaboration.

You’re not supposed to know all the answers.

2. Focus on the positive. Yes, it’s a cliché, but there’s a reason why something becomes a cliché…

Effective coaching isn’t about trying to find what’s wrong. It’s about building on what’s good.

3. Debrief. Always ask the riders (parents, carers, observers too) how the session went for them.

This is humility. It’s a strength which develops trust and authenticity.

4. Make notes (journal) to ensure continuity and avoid repeating mistakes.

Danny Anholt FBHS