Are you a Librarian Coach or a Professor Coach?

There seems to be two types of coaches that run classes at gyms like ours. There are people who tend to “manage” the class (Librarians), and those that tend to “lead” the class (Professors).

Comparing Librarians and Professors

Librarians do as little talking as possible and prevent others from talking so people can focus on themselves and their work. Professors talk in great detail and encourage discussions.

Librarians care most about order and neatness. Professors care more about content and learning.

Librarians follow strict schedules. Professors know how and when to change the plan to make a better experience.

Librarians are founts of information, if you know what questions to ask. Professors can understand where people are at and anticipate what they need to learn next.

While this metaphor isn’t supposed to disparage Librarians, I do think the comparison works in this context.

Librarians are the custodians of where the knowledge is kept. They are there to help people who come to the library to work on their own. Their knowledge is vast, but they do not have to be flexible or change with each person who comes to them.

Professors are captains, taking the learners on a journey from where they are now to a new place with a new perspective. They are on the journey with the students. They need to be more flexible. They need to be more of a leader. 

When Coaching…

When you are coaching classes, are you more worried about cleaning up the gym than talking to clients and making sure everyone gets some direction and attention?

Are you more concerned about the clock and administering each section of the class down to the minute than giving people more or less time when they need it?

When starting classes, do you just read off the whiteboard/screen for 5 minutes straight and then just point back to it every so often? Or do you break it up throughout the class, teaching the theory and principles as people are moving?

Are you only demonstrating the movements to the class and then only answering questions when people bring them to you (vs constantly moving, having people perform, and giving constant feedback)?

During conditioning workouts, are you standing off to the side, checking your phone, playing with the music, or just shouting encouragement? Or are you continuing to coach each and every person through the workout?

Coaching, like being a Professor, is a craft that can be honed for a lifetime.

To improve your coaching, get people more results out of your classes, and to improve their overall experience... start thinking of yourself as more of a Professor (leader) and less like a Librarian (manager).

(No Librarians were injured in the writing of this article. I love libraries and Librarians!)

Thrive on.

-jj