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I want to dive into a topic that sits at the heart of how we lead athletes: the difference between transactional and transformational coaching.
Both styles show up on the sidelines, in the locker room, and in how we connect with athletes — and both can have an impact. But the outcomes they create are very different.
A transformational coach takes a visionary position. They inspire people to follow that vision, and they work alongside athletes to excel — not just in performance, but in personal growth.
On the flip side, transactional coaching is built around structure, compliance, and reinforcement. It’s more about extrinsic motivation — rewards and punishments.
In this episode of the Captains & Coaches Podcast I compare and contrast the core characteristics and underlying processes of each, give it a listen:
Full episode available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
Four Core Transformational Characteristics
Here's a rundown for the primary characteristics of a transformational coach according to the leading research:
1. Idealized Influence (Role Modeling)
- Serves as a role model by demonstrating the standards they expect.
- Earns athletes’ trust and respect through consistency, integrity, and leading by example.
Example: A coach who lives the same discipline they demand (showing up prepared, respecting officials, maintaining composure under pressure)
2. Inspirational Motivation (Vision & Purpose)
- Articulates a compelling vision that motivates athletes to strive for something bigger than themselves.
- Uses energy, enthusiasm, and optimism to inspire commitment.
- Example: A coach paints the picture of making history with a first-ever championship run, helping players connect to the team’s shared mission.
3. Intellectual Stimulation (Creativity & Growth)
- Encourages athletes to think critically, solve problems, and explore new approaches.
- Challenges athletes to question “the way it’s always been done.”
Example: A coach invites athletes to co-create plays, experiment with strategies, or suggest new conditioning routines.
4. Individualized Consideration (Personalized Support)
- Recognizes the unique needs, strengths, and circumstances of each athlete.
- Provides mentorship, feedback, and tailored development opportunities.
Example: Adjusting a training plan for an injured player while still finding ways to challenge and include them.
Transactional characteristics to look out for
Transactional leadership emphasizes structure, task completion, and compliance through reinforcement and monitoring. Certain tools mentioned below can be applied with a transformational approach, but note the intent led with in the examples.
1. Contingent Reward: Providing recognition or tangible rewards for meeting specific performance benchmarks.
Example: A basketball coach tells players they’ll earn extra playing time if they consistently hit a free-throw percentage target. (You can see where this can go wrong when coach needs that player on the court)
2. Management by Exception (Active): Actively monitoring performance to catch mistakes and correct them quickly... but not acknowledging anything done correctly or well, because, "that's what they supposed to do."
Example: A soccer coach immediately pulls a defender from a drill after repeated positioning errors, emphasizing compliance with tactical rules (if they acknowledge them at all)
3. Management by Exception (Passive): The coach only steps in once mistakes or problems become obvious. Athletes may have been practicing the wrong way all along, believing they were doing it correctly — until the coach finally notices and shames.
Example: A baseball coach is present during bullpen sessions but is more concerned with chatting than correct mechanics. The pitcher had been repeating poor mechanics for weeks, but goes unnoticed until the kid gets shelled. (By the time the mistake is caught, it’s harder to fix and kid's headspace is no beuno)
4. Uniform Standards: Instead of adapting to unique needs or circumstances, the coach enforces a rigid standard — often leaving some athletes behind and discouraging those who don’t fit the mold.
Example: A track coach sets a blanket rule that every athlete must attend practice to race, no exceptions. Multi-sport or high academic athletes are banned from competition for not being present due to basketball game or big presentation just as the less committed kids skipping practice for "recreational activities".
Raise the Game
At the end of the day, coaching is more than running drills, writing workouts, or enforcing rules. It’s about how we influence athletes on three powerful levels:
- Intrapersonal – Are we empowering the individual’s mindset, building their belief in what they’re capable of on and off the field?
- Interpersonal – Are we strengthening the coach–athlete relationship, showing trust, care, and investment in each person?
- Environmental – Are we shaping a culture that supports every athlete, not just the stars or the compliant ones, but the whole team?
Transactional coaching may get compliance in the short term, but transformational coaching builds confidence, trust, and a culture athletes will carry with them for life. That’s the kind of legacy that lasts far beyond the scoreboard.
So the challenge I’ll leave you with is this: when your athletes look back years from now, will they remember a coach who enforced rules, or a coach who built belief?