CONFIRMATION BIAS
Confirmation bias – the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.
This is a common theme I see in strength and conditioning and track and field. Copy and paste, throw your logo or school logo on a program and go? I’ve seen it and heard of coaches doing that!! Not in the profession for very long that’s for sure. I get asked quite often, how come you don’t do things the way you did last year or five years ago, whatever the circumstance. My answer is simply this: I listen or read something from somebody smarter than me. I remember when my high school teacher told me, if you were the smartest person in the classroom then you are in the wrong classroom. I have always sought out people in my profession that have been doing it longer than me or have taken a different approach than me. And see what successes they have had in their careers.
“Risk taking is a common trait among champions. Learning to be comfortable with taking calculated risks to drive positive change – whether that be in mind-set, mechanics, strategies, tactics or training methods is essential.” -Dan Pfaff
I think I speak for so many coaches and athletes in our profession that individuals like Coach Pfaff, Mike Boyle and Mark Verstegen who were the head of the spear when it came to positive change in our profession and continue to be that positive change for all of us. I can’t begin to tell you how much I have learned off of these coaches and many others. I can see such a change in the coaching out there. I know there are still some really poor coaching out there but we have come so far!! I have always pushed myself and my team to never be comfortable and always look for the right answers. Even if we don’t have the right answers at that moment find the answers.
“Comfort zones are plush lined coffins. When you stay in your plush lined coffins, you die.”
-Stan Dale
