Good coaches know their opponents. Great coaches know themselves.

What if you asked your team what it’s like to be coached by you? What if you gave them the freedom to answer honestly?

It’s a terrifying thought, and that’s exactly why it matters.

John Wesley, the 18th-century leader who sparked movements, used to meet weekly with his people and ask brutally honest questions about their character, habits, and integrity. It wasn’t about shame. It was about self-awareness.

Coaches need the same thing. Because before you can develop your players, you have to develop yourself.

The Challenge: Run a Self-Scout

This week, turn the film around. Ask these 22 questions about how you lead, how you communicate, and how you grow. Then ask the people you trust the most to answer honestly.

A friend. An assistant coach. A player. Someone who will tell you the truth.

Feedback from those closest to you might sting, but it’s also where growth begins.

22 Coaching Self-Scout Questions

1. Am I leading from purpose or pressure?
2. Have I confused being busy with being effective?
3. Do I coach players for who they are or who I wish they were?
4. When things go wrong, do I blame or evaluate?
5. Am I building culture or just enforcing rules?
6. Do I model the composure I expect from my players?
7. Do I listen more than I talk?
8. Do I give feedback that develops or feedback that defends my ego?
9. Is my identity too tied to the scoreboard?
10. Do I value relationships only when they produce results?
11. Am I spending more time correcting than connecting?
12. Do my players know I care about them off the field?
13. Do I coach the next play, or do I dwell on the last one?
14. Have I stopped learning because I think I already know?
15. Is my staff empowered or micromanaged?
16. Do I lead meetings or drain them?
17. Have I celebrated small wins this week?
18. Do I take feedback as a threat or a gift?
19. Do I make space for stillness or do I hide in the noise?
20. Have I paused, prayed, or reflected before I reacted today?
21. Would I want to play for me?
22. Am I becoming the kind of coach I’d want for my own kids?

The Takeaway

Growth doesn’t start when you spot others’ weaknesses. It starts when you have the courage to name your own.

Run your self-scout. Ask the hard questions. Then let your team, your staff, or your closest friends do the same.

Get started on CoachLync today!