Getting the Most from your Athletes: Build a Winning Team Culture

Inspired by our book Coaching Better Athletes

PART 3 OF A 3-PART SERIES

Introduction: The Culture That Changes Everything

What separates good teams from great ones? It’s not just talent—it’s culture. A strong team culture aligns your coaching "why" (Part 1) with your athletes’ motivations (Part 2), creating an environment where everyone thrives. In this final post of our three-part series, we’ll explore how to build a positive culture using Appreciative Inquiry and complete our look at Motivational Interviewing (M.I.) to empower athletes. Get ready to transform your team!

The Power of Team Culture

Culture is the invisible force that shapes how your team thinks, acts, and performs. Without a clear culture, even talented athletes can fall short of their potential. You should know that building culture takes time, leadership, and buy-in, but the payoff is huge: a team that’s motivated, resilient, and united.

"Culture is the invisible force that shapes how your team thinks..."

Appreciative Inquiry: A Strengths-Based Approach

Appreciative Inquiry, originally a business strategy, shifts the focus from fixing problems to maximizing strengths. It’s about creating a culture where athletes feel valued and inspired. Here are its five principles for coaching:

• Shape Culture Through Words: Use positive language to reinforce values like effort or teamwork. Instead of focusing on an area or person that may not be demonstrating strength, try identifying something positive and celebrate it. 

• Measure What Matters: Track progress in areas you want to grow, like team bonding or skill development. What you focus on will improve.

• Study Success: Share stories of past wins or current strengths to build a positive narrative. Highlight a player’s clutch performance or the team’s best practice.

• Paint a Positive Picture: Visualize and communicate your vision. Tell athletes, “I see us becoming a team that never gives up.”

• Ask Positive Questions: Frame inquiries to uncover strengths, like, “What’s one thing we did well in our last game?”

EXAMPLE:

A swim coach might start practice by asking, “What’s one moment from the last meet that you’re proud of?” This sets a positive tone and reinforces a culture of growth.

More on Motivational Interviewing (M.I.): Improvement Talk and MI Spirit

In Part 2, we covered the Coaches’ R.U.L.E. and OARS model. Now, let’s explore M.I.’s remaining elements: Improvement Talk and MI Spirit.

1. Improvement Talk

Improvement Talk is when athletes express a desire to change, like saying, “I want to get stronger.” It’s your cue to guide them. It must include:

• A verbalized need to improve.

• A specific action plan (e.g., “I’ll lift weights twice a week”).

• Athlete-initiated words, not coach-coaxed.

• A focus on current needs, not past failures.

When you hear Improvement Talk, affirm it and help them brainstorm next steps. For instance, if a track athlete says, “I need to improve my starts,” respond, “That’s a great goal! What’s one thing you could try this week?” This keeps them in the driver’s seat while pushing them forward in their development.

2. MI Spirit

MI Spirit is about how you apply M.I.—with collaboration, evocation, and choice:

• Collaboration: Treat athletes as experts of their own lives. Instead of always dictating their developmental path or specific drillwork, ask them what they’d like to work on.

• Evocation: Draw out their ideas. If an athlete struggles with confidence, ask, “What’s helped you feel confident in the past?”

• Choice: Let athletes make decisions. Find space for them to contribute their thoughts and ideas for team growth. Giving them autonomy fosters ownership and motivation.

EXAMPLE:

A baseball coach might notice a player slumping. Instead of saying, “You need to fix your swing,” they could ask, “What’s feeling off with your swing, and what do you think might help?” This respects the athlete’s perspective and empowers them to chase success.

Bringing It All Together: Authenticity and Culture

To sustain a strong culture, you must coach authentically. Revisit the guiding questions from Part 1 to ensure your actions align with your values. If you value relationships, prioritize one-on-one check-ins. If you value growth, celebrate small wins. Authenticity builds trust, which reinforces culture.

"To sustain a strong culture, you must coach authentically."

A Simple Take on Application on these Principles

Consider a youth soccer team with a culture of fun and effort. The coach starts practices with a quick game, affirms players for hustle, and asks, “What’s one thing we can improve today?” This aligns with her "why" (making sports enjoyable) and the athletes’ motivations (fun and friendship), creating a cycle of engagement and growth.

Practical Steps to Build Culture

• Host a Culture Workshop: Gather your team to discuss shared values and goals. Use Appreciative Inquiry questions to spark ideas.

• Celebrate Strengths: Each week, highlight one player or team strength in a group chat or huddle.

• Practice M.I. Daily: Use the OARS technique and listen for Improvement Talk in conversations.

• Visualize Success: Create a visual for your team with images or words representing your goals (e.g., “Resilient,” “United”).

Trust that it Matters

A positive culture amplifies your coaching impact. Athletes in a strengths-based environment take risks, support each other, and stay motivated, even through setbacks. Combined with M.I., you’ll help them achieve their "what" while staying true to your "why."

Time to Act

Try one Appreciative Inquiry principle this week—ask your team a positive question or share a success story. Let us know how it goes in the comments! Want more coaching tips? Subscribe to the website and stay tuned to the blog!