🏆 The Michelangelo Effect in Coaching

Why Great Coaches Don’t Create Talent, They Reveal It.

Author

Greg Berge
July 31, 2025

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💭 ONE THOUGHT
The Michelangelo Effect in Coaching

There’s a story about Michelangelo that I think about often when coaching.

When asked how he sculpted masterpieces like David, he said something simple but profound:

“The sculpture is already complete within the marble. I just have to chip away the excess.”

Michelangelo

That’s the Michelangelo Effect.

And it applies directly to coaching.

Coaches are sculptors of belief.

We don’t create greatness.
We reveal it.

It’s already there in your players.
In their potential.
In their mindset.
In their heart.

But it’s often buried beneath fear, doubt, or bad habits.

Great coaches help chip those away.

Not by yelling louder.
Not by adding more plays.

But by believing in the masterpiece before it’s visible.

3 Ways Coaches Can Live the Michelangelo Effect

  1. See potential before it shows up.
    Look at your least confident player and choose to see what they can become. Treat them accordingly.

  2. Chip away at limiting beliefs.
    Teach them to replace “I can’t” with “I’m not there yet.”
    Growth mindset isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a tool.

  3. Celebrate the small reveals.
    When progress is made, be sure to point it out. When effort is high, praise it.
    Every chip matters in shaping the sculpture.

We’re all walking blocks of marble.

What separates the great from the good isn’t talent.
It’s whether someone helps us see what’s possible.

That’s the job of a coach.

You don’t have to change who your players are.
You just need to help reveal who they’ve always been.

Reflective Question:

Who on your team needs you to see their potential before they see it themselves?

Let’s keep chipping away.
The masterpiece is already in there.

Good Luck!
Greg

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📜 GREAT QUOTES

"I’ve discovered that most leaders aren’t born with leadership qualities and that everyone can lead, you just have to want to. My personality and industry dictated my leadership qualities, and yours should do the same.”

Dawn Staley

“Offer constant positive feedback to athletes. In the absence of feedback, people will fill in the blanks with a negative. They will assume you don’t care about them or don’t like them.”

Pat Summitt

🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS

🎥 Video: Bob Knight Unfiltered [LINK]

🆇 ICYMI: How do you lose a team? [LINK]

📰 Article: Sharpen the Axe

🏆 Sharpen the AX

Preparation is the great separation in life and coaching. Building a great team is a lot like sharpening an axe.

gregberge.beehiiv.com/p/sharpen-the-ax

𝐗 POSTS FROM OTHERS

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Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]

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