As you travel through life, the further you go, the less you “sugar coat” the facts. If there’s something to be said, you usually say it, without worrying too much about what people will think. After all, you won’t have too much control over how people react anyway.

Over the last couple of years I’ve lost a couple of athletes because I told them the truth. The few who may dislike the flavor of truth so much that they want “to shoot the messenger”, have most likely been protected from the truth by their parents, partners or work mates for too long.

If I stick to being truthful, both in praise and evaluation of performance. Everyone will know, a compliment is genuine, and an evaluation is real. Either way, you are on the right track, or you have something to work on.

To those who don’t like the evaluation. Get your mum to evaluate your performances in future. She’s probably been protecting you throughout your life anyway.

To those who have received a compliment, value it, because you don’t get them for just turning up.

Don’t come to a training session looking for compliments. Learn to compliment yourself. You’ll know when you’ve done well. Just because the coach has said nothing, doesn’t mean he hasn’t noticed. Little things like, stopping three metres short of the end of the pool, like touching and going instead of tumble turning. Talking when the coach is explaining something or turning up late to most sessions. Does anyone really think the coach doesn’t notice or care about these things?

If you haven’t achieved what you have come into this sport to achieve. Do you take offence when reprimanded? Do you go to training looking for compliments? Do you feel un-noticed? Can you compare your attitude/approach  to the athletes who you know personally, who are achievers?