The world of coaching, whether on the field or in the boardroom, plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals and organizations alike. The benefits of coaching are often celebrated in the realms of sports, but its value extends far beyond the playing fields, providing lessons that can be equally applied to business professionals.

At its core, coaching is about unlocking potential. At its best, it provides guidance, encouragement, and a structured environment where individuals can learn, grow, and improve. Whether we're talking about a young athlete, a young professional, or an experienced executive, coaching offers a pathway to maximize skills, challenge comfort zones, and, ultimately, drive success.

The significance of good coaching in sports goes beyond developing athletic prowess. Good coaches are mentors, role models, and sometimes even secondary parental figures. They instill essential values like teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and resilience—all skills that will serve young people for the rest of their lives. These skills equate to the workplace as easily as they do to the playing field.

Consider the lessons learned on the playing field: a child learns how to handle both victory and defeat, how to collaborate with teammates toward a common goal, and how to dig deep when things get tough. These are not just sports lessons; they are life lessons. Behind every athlete who learns these values is a coach who believes in them, challenges them, and helps them discover their best selves. The same principle holds in the workplace, where success requires mentorship, leadership support, and training.

The impact of coaching is evident in the way it shapes character. A coach who teaches a young person how to bounce back from a mistake on the field is also teaching them how to handle setbacks in life. A coach who encourages effort over outcome is showing a young athlete that success isn't always about winning but about the journey and personal growth.

In today’s world, where kids face mounting pressures (from academic achievements to social media scrutiny) or adults face the same pressures in the workforce (from understaffing to increased performance pressure), having a coach who can provide guidance, and emotional support, can be invaluable. Good coaches help people navigate their broader lives, giving them the confidence to face challenges head-on.

The beauty of good coaching lies in its ability to create lasting change. The goal isn’t merely to win a game or close a deal; it’s to foster continuous improvement. The best coaches don’t just teach skills; they cultivate a growth mindset. They help individuals see beyond their current abilities and believe in what they can achieve with healthy guidance and effort.

Alternatively, and unfortunately, poor coaches also exist. These bad coaches teach kids that not every trusted adult will be a role model and that not everyone is rooting for them to succeed. A bad coach who treats teammates – in sports or the workplace - inequitably and who plays favorites teaches the importance of resiliency and perseverance and that you won’t always be surrounded by people cheering for your success; in fact, some will be actively trying to tear you down. Coaches who actively work to undermine others and who work against you do so because of their insecurities and inadequacies. This teaches a valuable – if difficult – life lesson and these coaches will never succeed long-term in sports or business.

Coaching is about more than winning. It’s about teaching personal growth, learning, and resilience. The best coaches—whether guiding young athletes or business professionals—leave a lasting impact by empowering individuals to unlock their potential and believe in their capacity to succeed.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com