Top 3 High-Performance Insights on Being Coachable

By: Athletic Performance Division President - Mike Romanella

What separates good athletes from great ones? It’s not just speed, strength, or skill—it’s coachability. Across every level of sport, the most consistent high performers all have one thing in common: they are open, humble, and hungry to grow.

This week, I’m sharing three powerful insights on what it really means to be coachable—lessons we’ve seen echoed from legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Usain Bolt. Whether you're working with student-athletes or seasoned players, these takeaways are game-changing.

Let’s dive in:

1. Humility and a Growth Mindset: Always Be Willing to Learn

Even at the highest levels of sport, the most successful athletes stay humble and eager to learn from their coaches. They never assume they know it all. For instance, LeBron James – a four-time NBA champion at age 39 – impressed coach Steve Kerr during the 2024 Olympics with his professionalism and openness to coaching (Steve Kerr's Honest Quote About LeBron James Went Viral ).

Likewise, Michael Jordan once said his greatest skill was being “coachable… a sponge and aggressive to learn.” (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable) Even after becoming a superstar, Jordan kept soaking up advice and went on to dominate the league for years (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable).

In the MMA world, Hall-of-Famer Rashad Evans echoed that “as an athlete you have to be coachable. And being coachable is a humbling thing.” (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable) No matter how accomplished, coachable athletes remain students of the game.

Coach’s Tips:

• Stay humble: Never act like you’re “too good” for feedback. The best athletes (even legends) keep their egos in check and know they can always improve.

• Be curious: Ask questions and listen intently. Treat every practice like a learning opportunity, as if you’re a beginner eager to get better.

• Embrace a growth mindset: View yourself as a lifelong learner. In sports (and life) “you must always be the apprentice, even when you become the master” (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable) – there’s always something new to learn.

2. Embracing Feedback and Accountability: Invite Coaching, Don’t Fight It

Coachable players actively seek out constructive criticism and use it to improve. They don’t take it personally when a coach corrects them – instead, they want that input. A great example is NFL legend Tom Brady. Coach Bill Belichick was famously hard on Brady in film sessions, treating him like any other player. In fact, New England coaches noted that their best player actually “likes to be coached the hardest.” In team meetings, Belichick would even highlight Brady’s worst throws in front of everyone – and Brady “doesn’t blink.” (Tom Brady's willingness to take criticism from Bill Belichick has made the Patriots great | FOX Sports) By welcoming tough coaching, Brady set the tone for a culture where no one gets defensive about feedback.

Similarly, NBA coach Gregg Popovich praised Tim Duncan for allowing himself to be coached hard. “If your superstar can take a little hit now and then, everybody else can shut up and fall in line,” Popovich quipped (Gregg Popovich and Spurs Stars Recall Tim Duncan's Exemplary Career). Because Duncan accepted criticism, it held the whole team accountable. These examples show that being coachable means valuing honesty over comfort – top performers want coaches to point out their weaknesses so they can get better.

Coach’s Tips:

• Welcome critique: Encourage athletes to “run to coaching,” not away from it. Teach them that criticism is not an attack – it’s a tool to make them better.

• Lead by example: Make your team leaders and captains embrace feedback publicly. When the stars take coaching positively, it inspires everyone else to do the same.

• No favorites: Hold every player to high standards. Coachable athletes don’t expect special treatment – they expect honest treatment. Consistent accountability builds a stronger, more unified team.

3. Work Ethic and Continuous Improvement: Put in the Work Beyond Talent

Being coachable also means committing to the hard work and adjustments coaches ask for. High performers know that talent alone isn’t enough – improvement comes from training and applying coaches’ guidance every day. Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt had to learn this lesson early in his career. After struggling against other elite runners, Bolt’s coach sat him down and explained that “everybody who’s a professional has talent, so it’s who works the hardest on their talent that will be the best.” (Talent is never enough: Usain Bolt reveals career turning point and coach Glen Mills advise that redirected him to greatness) Bolt realized he couldn’t rely on talent alone; he needed to sacrifice, listen, and outwork the competition. That mindset shift, driven by coach Glen Mills’ advice, propelled him to world-record greatness (Talent is never enough: Usain Bolt reveals career turning point and coach Glen Mills advise that redirected him to greatness).

Likewise, even after achieving success, coachable athletes keep refining their game. They practice with the same intensity and attention to detail as when they were chasing the top. After his first NBA title and MVP, Michael Jordan continued to be coachable and added new skills to stay on top (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable). The best never coast on natural ability – they constantly ask, “What can I do better?” and follow through on the training or tweaks their coaches suggest. Coachability is really about dedication to continuous improvement.

Coach’s Tips:

• Hard work beats talent: Instill the mantra “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Skill matters, but a coachable athlete’s work ethic matters more (Basketball Quotes: 4 Quotes on the Importance of Being Coachable) (Talent is never enough: Usain Bolt reveals career turning point and coach Glen Mills advise that redirected him to greatness). Encourage players to practice with purpose, focusing on the little improvements coaches ask for.

• Be adaptable: Sports evolve and opponents adjust. Coachable athletes are willing to change their technique or habits if a coach shows a better way. Teach kids to trust the process – even if it’s challenging – because it leads to growth.

• Stay hungry: Even your top player should act like they’re chasing the #1 spot. Celebrate progress, but reinforce that there’s always a next level. A coachable mindset means never getting complacent; it means loving the grind of getting better.

Why Coachability Matters Across All Levels

From youth leagues to the pros, these insights show that coachability is a cornerstone of high performance. Legendary coaches and athletes across diverse sports all say the same thing: being coachable – open to feedback, eager to learn, and committed to work – is often the X-factor that separates good players from great ones. As Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach Shea Ralph puts it, she looks for players with “the drive… to want to grow, to have a passion... to be coachable — all the things that you need to be great.” (Everything head women’s basketball coach Shea Ralph said at her introductory press conference - The Vanderbilt Hustler) In other words, talent without coachability will only take you so far. For high school coaches, the message is clear: teach your athletes to be coachable. It will not only elevate their game, but also set them up for success in anything they pursue.

Bottom Line: When athletes are coachable, they unlock their full potential. Encourage your team to embrace coaching – to listen, learn, and work – and you’ll be amazed at the results on and off the field.

Whether you’re coaching future Olympians or high school hopefuls, one truth stays the same—coachability is the ultimate performance multiplier. It builds stronger athletes, better teams, and lifelong learners who thrive far beyond the game.

Start having this conversation with your athletes. Praise them not just for talent, but for how well they listen, learn, and lead by example. When they truly buy into coaching, their growth becomes unstoppable.

Stay tuned—starting next week, I’ll be dropping weekly insights just like this one, every Tuesday. Until then, keep coaching with purpose.

— Coach Romo