The Stories We Tell: How Storytelling in Coaching Shapes Motivation
In this week’s episode, we explore the powerful role of storytelling in coaching and leadership. The stories we tell our athletes, students, and teams can either inspire growth or quietly limit potential. Humans are wired for story. Whether we realize it or not, the narratives we create as coaches and teachers shape how learners see themselves and what they believe they can achieve. This is known as narrative identity, a well-researched concept in psychology. When we tell empowering stories, we can fuel motivation, resilience, and growth. On the flip side, negative or limiting narratives can hold learners back.
As I discuss in this week’s Focus Fridays episode, storytelling in coaching happens all the time: in post-game talks, in classroom conversations, even in casual remarks. The language we use matters. It sets the tone for what our athletes and students expect of themselves.
The same applies to us as leaders. The stories we tell ourselves about our coaching, our leadership, and our abilities also shape how we show up. The good news is: we can always choose to rewrite those stories — for our learners, and for ourselves.
This Week’s Ponder Question:
What is one story you are telling your athletes or students this season… and is it helping or hindering their growth?
Watch the full episode of Focus Fridays here
If this week’s Focus Fridays got you thinking about how the stories we tell shape motivation, you might also enjoy this related conversation from The Mental Cast:
Chat with Karl France — How Language Shapes Mindset
In that episode, we dive into how common words like “normal” and “average” can quietly influence coaching culture, team identity, and personal growth — a perfect companion to this week’s discussion on storytelling in coaching.
