In this episode ‘The Coaches’ coach’ and communication specialist Betsy Butterick joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss ‘Supporting Gen Z and Gen Alpha to thrive both in and out of their sport’ and what that potentially means for coaches, teachers and parents.
During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:
- The Coaching Crisis of coaches leaving the profession and struggling to connect with Gen Z
- The importance of understanding Gen Z rather than judging them
- Connection as the foundation to all great coaching
- The shift from telling to asking
- Making sense of expectations both spoken and unspoken
- Accountability vs. Responsibility
- Generational Traits – are they myths or reality?
- Honesty with Empathy – being kind rather than just nice, allows for honest caring conversations
- Managing Dreams, Expectations and Realities
- The Coach–Parent–Athlete Triangle and communication skills applying across all three relationships
- Connection, co-creation and choices
Betsy Butterick, aka “The Coaches’ Coach”, is a seasoned pro who utilises the transformative power of communication to help build high-performing teams. As a former coach, Betsy understands that “chemistry” is more than a buzzword – it is the result of genuine connection, and at its core lies effective communication.
In her role as “The Coaches’ Coach,” Betsy meets individuals where they are to support their growth and evolution. Through cultivating awareness and the application of tools and frameworks to support greater autonomy, Betsy works with people to become self-generating and self-correcting. As a Communication Specialist, she works collaboratively to enhance communication effectiveness and drive positive change at every level.
While there is rarely one “best way” to communicate, Betsy helps coaches and athletes shorten the distance between intention and impact, one conversation at a time. Audiences value time with Betsy for her relatable approach and actionable insights that provide both immediate and future value. As a facilitator and educator,
Betsy has the exceptional ability to connect with a diverse audience and offers a professional, playful, and people-centric approach to learning and development. She’s routinely asked to speak at sports conferences and in departments to help people build the communication skills to optimise the people-part of any pursuit. Betsy has worked with teams and organisations at the collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels by creating custom programming to support high-performance both on and off the field.
Much of her recent work has focused on helping leaders bridge the generational gap to work proactively with Gen Z and beyond by replacing judgment with understanding and providing tools to support long-term success. A lifelong athlete, Betsy grew up playing all sports and was a competitive basketball player (and fairly awful golfer) at the collegiate level. She now spends her time with her wife and two daughters, building pillow forts, biking, practicing yoga, chasing sunsets, and in constant pursuit of the perfect breakfast burrito.
If you would like to buy a copy of Betsy’s latest book ‘Kids These Days: Effective Strategies for Coaching Gen Z and Beyond’ you can do so by clicking below which includes a 15% discount courtesy of Betsy for the WWPIS audience.
Additional Reading
Sport v Computer Game
When all I get is a grunt……
