EKAITZ SAIES

Over the years, through my journey across high-performance environments—as an athlete, a coach, and later as a performance director—I’ve seen firsthand just how deeply we influence one another. I’ve been shaped by the people around me: mentors, teammates, leaders. And I’ve come to realise the responsibility that comes with being in a position to influence others.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re always communicating something—through our actions, our energy, our presence. The impact we have as coaches goes far beyond the training plan. It’s in how we show up, especially when things are tough.

As coaches, we often focus on the technical and tactical aspects of performance. But one of the most powerful tools we possess—often unconsciously—is ourselves. Our behaviour, our reactions, and even our emotional state serve as a constant model for our athletes. They watch us closely. They learn not just from what we say, but from what we do—and how we do it.

That means the way we handle pressure, the way we respond to setbacks, and the way we show up each day matters. A great deal. The emotions we don’t manage don’t just stay within us—they ripple outward. They impact the team, they affect the culture, and they influence performance.

Our mood, our energy, our ability to stay composed under stress… these are contagious. They can either inspire and uplift, or drag the group down. The key lies in our hands.

This isn’t just metaphorical. Neuroscience has shown that we’re hardwired to reflect the behaviours and emotions of those around us—thanks to something called mirror neurons. It’s why calm breeds calm, and composure under pressure can spread through a team like wildfire. Our athletes don’t just listen to us—they feel us.

We can’t always control what happens to us. None of us can. But we can control how we respond. And in that response, we reveal who we are. Responding with discipline. With courage. With purpose. Choosing to see challenges not as threats, but as opportunities to grow, to lead, and to protect the people we’re responsible for.

Because leadership isn’t about titles or status. It’s about ownership. It’s about showing up with consistency, integrity, and care—especially when things get tough.

As coaches, our job isn’t just to develop athletes. It’s to model the kind of character we hope to see in them.

In the end, our athletes become a reflection of what we consistently bring into the environment. Let’s make sure we’re bringing something worth reflecting.

Managing our emotions isn’t just about performance—it’s about relationships. The quality of our connection with our athletes, our staff, and even ourselves, depends on it. And that emotional discipline? No one else can do it for us. It’s on us.

With discipline.
With courage.
Every day.