Obtaining leadership buy-in can be a tricky aspect of any industry, especially those within the tactical sector of human performance. As a coach, leadership buy-in is of the utmost importance for achieving organizational goals and progressing a TSAC program from within each of the units or squadrons the coach is assigned to.
Commanders & unit leaders who are committed to human performance are more likely to drive their teams to work harder to achieve greater results within those units. In this article, we will discuss how to obtain administration buy-in within the tactical strength and conditioning industry through 5 different avenues.
What is leadership TRULY looking for:
The first step in obtaining leadership buy-in is to understand what the leadership is looking for.
- Is the unit leader on the verge of a promotion & trying to make an impact?
- Is the unit leader struggling with poor PT testing results?
- Are the injury rates too high under the current command?
- Are the administrators concerned with the lack of PT within the training pipeline
- Are not enough recruits & trainees making it through the pipeline & training due to unrealistic expectations?
Whether the reason is selfish or selfless, as a coach you will need to work with these higher-ranking individuals to achieve common ground. While leadership buy-in is not the end-all-be-all for a thriving program, it certainly plays a heavy influence on long-term culture. When leaders get in the weight room, most younger team members within the unit will follow suit and will always make your metrics/utilization rate look better. Especially if you run a voluntary program like myself.
Develop a Plan of Action from Reverse Engineering the End Goal:
Once the end goal is established, the coach will need to be able to reverse engineer said goal. As an example; let’s assume the goal is to get more trainees through the pipeline in 20 weeks.
Once the coach is in a room with higher-level leadership, he or she will have to demonstrate how their training plan will assist in getting more trainees through the pipeline. Use the example below for reference:
- Who you are, What the issue is
- Establish a What, Why, & How?
- What the goal is
- Why is it important
- How you will accomplish it
- Phase 1 goals: Pre-test (if applicable), Correct movement dysfunction
- Phase 2 goals: Build conditioning base & hypertrophy
- Phase 3 goals: Strength phase, post-test
- Phase 4 goals: Taper phase to trainee testing goals
- Mission or task-specific requirements
- What does the HP staff need to achieve said goals
- Budget – How much do you need and how much can leadership realistically give your program?
- Facilities – What spacing, equipment, flooring, etc? How many people will be in each session?
- Time for training & treatment – What is the time allotted that you want, what is realistic, & how can you compromise with leadership to obtain a “win-win” scenario?
- Leave room for questions
- If you cannot answer leadership questions that is OK. Say you do not have the answer and research to provide an answer later that same week.
Each trainee pipeline completed is a great chance to document results for unit leadership. Show percentages of performance metrics improved and decreased rate of injury wherever possible. However, the most important factor is to demonstrate how much money you saved the unit in the long run. Money does make the world go around & to show how much money you are saving the department/unit from spending will allow for the likelihood of program retention in the future.
Provide Evidence-Based Proof, Both Research & Social Proof:
Implementing evidence-based research and incorporating social proof into a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Program (TSAC) can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Evidence-based research ensures that the program is grounded in scientifically validated principles which would optimize training protocols for specific tactical demands. By relying on empirical data and peer-reviewed studies, the program can confidently address the unique physical requirements of tactical professionals.
Additionally, integrating social proof such as success stories, testimonials, and real-world outcomes can build trust & motivate participants. This in turn would foster a sense of community within the program. This dual approach not only aligns the TSAC program with the latest advancements in sports science but also establishes a strong foundation of credibility and user confidence, ultimately leading to improved performance and overall mission readiness for tactical personnel.
Focus on the Return on Investment, How Can Your Program Save the Unit Money, Time, Rehab, etc.?
Leaders are often focused on short-sighted objectives and want to see a return on investment through physical development. However, there is a massive benefit to suggesting the long-term benefits within an organization after implementing a tactical S&C program.
Some of the key objectives to focus on could be:
- Long-term savings over 1,2,5,10,20 years
- Reduction of injury rate to establish state and federal-wide examples of effectiveness
- Higher unit morale
- Improved retention & more tactical athletes getting to retirement with minimal injuries
Understand the Ecosystem That You Serve:
Ecosystems can be incredibly diverse within TSAC. There is no true “one size fits all” method and model & for programming purposes; understand there are 100 ways to skin a cat. If the unit leader loves conjugate, you should start with variations of the conjugate method. If the coach runs a voluntary program, ask the athletes about their previous experiences in S&C during the initial consult time. Adapt and model your program to the community and realize that tactical athletes matter way more than you’re programming. Once the trust in the ecosystem is built, then slowly drive the programming to what you truly want to administer as a coach.
Conclusion
In conclusion, obtaining leadership buy-in within the tactical strength and conditioning industry is crucial for driving progress and achieving organizational goals. To achieve leadership and buy-in, it is essential to understand what leadership is looking for, develop a plan, provide proof of success, focus on ROI, & understand the ecosystem the coach is in. With these strategies in place, organizations can increase awareness and support for tactical strength and conditioning and achieve greater success.
I have utilized and seen all five of these avenues with massive success. Our nation’s heroes deserve the best care possible so please steal and utilize these avenues as needed. Feel free to connect with my Instagram @Coach_Telegadas and reach out to my coaching email CoachKostaTelegadas@GMail.com to talk shop about different experiences, programming, practical approaches & more.
