Editor’s Note from Brian. As coaches, we have many tough decisions. In some ways, we are similar to being the CEO of our programs. Here are some business lessons that can be applied to coaching as well.

by Kevin Dee

Any Leader needs to make tough decisions. CEOs tend to have the unique additional challenge of making such decisions as the final decision maker. It is a subtle, yet sometimes daunting, difference.

At any other level within an organization there is someone else to challenge/stop/change or just agree with the tough calls. The buck stops with the CEO which means she/he is ultimately responsible for all company decisions.

Experienced CEOs will generally get the calls right and know that, because they are not infallible, there will sometimes be mistakes. He/she knows that ultimately making a decision is always better than a “no decision” and most mistakes can be fixed if necessary.

Some leaders run into trouble, by making poor decisions, or by avoiding making decisions. In my experience there are a number of reasons for this:

• They are unwilling to get/listen to the right input before making a decision.
• They think they have all the answers themselves.
• They become paralyzed by the amount of input to the situation requiring a decision.
• They lack confidence in their ability to make the right call.
• They are worried about upsetting some people with their decision.

If the leader having a problem is not the CEO, then the problem can be solved quickly by a decision made by a more senior executive.

If the leader having a problem is the CEO, the impact on the organization is significant. CEOs MUST be willing to make tough calls, and be seen to act on decisions. The majority of those decisions should be sound decisions. This builds confidence and trust, which in turn creates a healthy leadership team.

This article was submitted by Quinn McDowell, founder of Arete Hoops.
You can read more of his articles at this link: AreteHoops

I hope you can use some of these thoughts as a different voice to share with your players.

5 Signs of Toxic Leadership

The well known author John Maxwell defines leadership as nothing more than one person influencing another. This definition gives us a singular focus when thinking about leadership in the context of a team dynamic. The idea that leadership is primarily influence, forces us to accept the notion that no one is exempt from the responsibilities that leadership requires.

Although certain players will exert more influence than others, every person on a team contributes to the culture of their program. If the entire team buys into a common vision of leadership that exerts a positive influence on those around them, the results can be amazing. On the other hand, if players decide to use their influence for selfish ends, the results can be toxic. Bad leadership spreads quickly and has devastating potential; but if you recognize the warning signs early enough, you can help save your team from self-destruction. Leadership is contagious whether positive or negative, so here are 5 signs that your team could be experiencing a turn for the worse…

1. Gossip

Gossip destroys trust and undermines team cohesiveness and togetherness. One of the most important strengths of great teams is their ability to insulate themselves against negativity. The only way teams shield themselves from outside influences is draw close and lean on each other during the inevitable ups and downs of a season. This “drawing close” process becomes difficult when players gossip about fellow teammates or coaching decisions. If a player has a problem with another player or is unsure of their role on the team, the mature way to handle these kind of doubts is to speak directly with the coach. Once the coach is involved, everyone can get on the same page and figure out a solution. Gossip is the cowardly way to handle tough situations and gossip destroys team chemistry.

2. Pouting

One of the signs of great leaders is their ability to celebrate team success despite how they perform individually. Of course it is easy to be happy about a victory when you score a lot of points, grab a bunch of rebounds, or dish out a number of assists. But the true test of great leadership is the ability to be genuinely excited about team accomplishments when you didn’t have your best game. Toxic leadership can start in the locker room after a big win when a player starts to pout because of a poor individual performance. This kind of pouting sends the message that MY
performance on the floor is what really matters and team success is secondary.

3. Poor Body Language

Your non-verbal communication as a leader is incredibly important. It communicates you’re feelings and shows the value of your priorities. For example, poor body language on the court after a teammate makes a mistake communicates a message of disgust and annoyance with that person. You are essentially telling that teammate, “I wish I had another player on the court with me who could play the right way”. This kind of communication coming from a prominent leader makes other teammates feel insecure and unsure of themselves on the court. Uncertainty leads to hesitancy which compounds mistakes and leads to poor team chemistry.

4. Negative Reaction to Adversity

There will come a point in every season when your team will have to respond to adversity. How these moments are handled by your leaders will set the tone for how the rest of the team responds in difficult circumstances. Your team might be losing to an inferior opponent and your leaders will have a choice to either blame the poor performance on someone (usually a coach or teammate), or take responsibility and figure out a way to improve the situation. Another example could be when the coach subs out a player during a tense moment in the game; how that player reacts to the coaches decision is important. The player can either sulk to the end of the bench consumed with selfish thoughts, or they can turn their frustration into positive energy and cheer their teammates on. Both reactions communicate specific messages to teammates and coaches. Toxic leaders tend to be consumed with their own predicaments are prone to have negative reactions to adversity.

5. Martyr Complex

The last sign of toxic leadership, is when players start believing (and telling anyone else who will listen) they are martyrs or victims. Whether it is coaching decisions, bad calls by the referees, unfair playing time, injuries, or incompetent teammates, leaders that adopt the martyr complex bring a dangerous presence to team dynamics. If players start to believe that someone else is the primary source of their problems, this creates a culture of entitlement and laziness. Rather than looking in the mirror and figuring out how to improve, martyrs look at their circumstances and blame others. Martyrs will never put up a fight in the heated battles of competition; but instead will take the path of least resistance.

Quinn played basketball at Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, OH), 4 years at the College of William and Mary, 1 season in the NBA D-League, and 2 years as a professional in Australia. Arete Hoops is dedicated to helping people of various ages, backgrounds, skill levels, and athletic goals pursue excellence in and through the game of Basketball.

You can read more articles by Quinn McDowell at this link: AreteHoops

These two articles were sent to me by Dennis Hutter Coach Hutter is the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Mayville State University. Dennis also has a coaching website. The URL is http://www.coachhutter.com/

I hope that you are able to find some parts of the articles that you can use in your program, regardless of what sport you coach.

Here are some thoughts on Coaching and Leadership, along with a handout on 10 ways to Lead by Example. These notes were taken from a book entitled “The Legacy Builder” by Rod Olson. I encourage all coaches to read this book as it is a great source for leadership and maximizing performance out of your players. The handout was something that our Comet Coaching Staff put together and handed out to our players this summer.

One thing I have learned from the past two years, is how “winning” and “losing” pretty much take care of themselves. “Winning” is just a by-product of doing things and treating people the “right way”.

As coaches and leaders we have a chance EVERYDAY to inspire young people and help them achieve levels of success that they never dreamed possible. Good luck with everything.

LEADERSHIP NOTES

True leadership is about inspiration and encouragement, as well as coaching……… and balance

-Balance goes hand in hand with maturity, it crosses all aspects of your life – mental, physical, spiritual and emotional

Things that are built to last, are not built fast

Simplicity – trying to be a simple person in a complex world can be difficult at times

Great leaders have to remain F.A.T,

F = Faithful – people must fully trust the organization understanding that we have their best interests at heart ALL the time

A = Available – people must be willing to make time to be the BEST they can be for the team. As well as for their families and community.

T = Teachable – to achieve the other two, people need to have a “teachable spirit”, or they have NO SHOT at all!!!!! They can not come in thinking they know it all!!!

Leaders are great at “controlling the controllables”.

-Great leaders understand what they can control, and they control them. They also know what they cannot control and stay away from trying to control those aspects.

A coach’s or leader’s job is to help an individual or a team get to a level they cannot achieve by themselves. When that happens the “winning” pretty much takes care of itself.

Focus on the two things you really can control: Your effort and your attitude.

You cannot give away what you do not possess yourself. Strive to be a simple person in a complex world. Control your effort and your attitude.

If you want your players and workers to trust you and be loyal to you, you have to capture their hearts and earn their trust.

-Trust = Character + Competence. Your character is who you are, and your competence is how you do your job or what you do

-Consistence within your behavior will bring about trust, and that trust will lead to loyalty

The time of blind obedience has passed. People do not trust without reason and motivation anymore.

Mental Toughness = The ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

With adversity people have been taught to handle it one of two ways – “flight or fight”.

If you want to motivate your team members, you need to develop a relationship with them.

-You develop a relationship with your players and workers by letting them know you care.

If you can capture their hearts, you will have no trouble with motivation and performance execution.

Remind your players that they have greatness within them, and it is our job as coaches to help them discover it.

When giving feedback to players and workers, focus on the process and not on the results: Process over Product.

As coaches and leaders we need to T.H.I.N.K before we speak:

T = True – Is what I am about to say True?

H = Helpful – Is what I am about to say going to be Helpful?

I = Inspire – Is what I am about to say going to Inspire them to get to the “next level?”

N = Necessary – Is what I am about to say Necessary, or am I only speaking to hear myself speak???

K = Kind – Is what I am about to say going to be received as Kind

 

10 Ways to Lead with Your Example

Your example when it comes to influencing others is not the main thing, it is the only thing.  Don Meyer

 

1. How You Talk

-Let your words reflect your actions and your actions reflect your words

-Let your words be driven by your heart

-Be quick to listen and slow to speak – Wisdom.

2. How You Treat People

-Kindness

-Kindness is the language that the blind can see and deaf can hear – Mark Twain

-Do something for someone who can’t do anything for you

-Treat people with great respect – handle conflict respectfully as well

3. Keep Your Word & Promises

-Sometimes this may mean promising less, so you can deliver more

-All we have is our word, without that we are nothing

-Keep your word, and you will garner great respect in your daily relationships

-Trust is earned in a relationship when a promise is kept –Build Trusting Relationships

4. Work Ethic

-Be the hardest working person on your team or in your department

-Stay educated and knowledgeable to give your team a chance to succeed

-NEVER GIVE UP/ ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO WIN TO HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION

-Do more/Say less

5. Your Attitude & Effort

–You can control two things in your life: Your Effort and your Attitude

–It is easy to work hard and have a great attitude when things are going well,

what is your attitude and work ethic like, when things are not going well???

-Attitude and Effort are great measures of a person’s character.

-No discipline seems pleasant at the time…

6. Say “Please”, “Thank You” and “You’re Welcome”

-These are lost words in our society today

-These words can have a long lasting impact on your daily relationships

-These words are a great way to show respect to others

-Saying these words will make people in your relationships want to help you again when the time comes.

7. Be on Time/Stay Late

-Be the first one in the office, and the last one to leave

-Have your staff see you when they enter the office in the morning, and have

them see you when they leave the office for the day

-Great work ethic throughout the office or team starts at the top – show them

how to work hard with your example.

8. Write Personal Notes & Thank You Notes

-You will never know the power of a thank you note, until you receive one

-A great way to show appreciation in your daily relationships, is to take the time to sit down and write a personal or thank you note to someone.

-Personal notes of praise are a great way to build confidence and let players/staff know they are doing a great job.

9. Delegate Responsibility

-Delegating responsibility builds leaders within your staff or department

-Delegating also builds trust within the relationships in your department or staff

-Delegating allows you to stay sharp and fresh

-Delegating allows you time to focus on the vision or strategic plan for your department, staff or team.

-YOU CAN’T BUILD LEADERS, IF YOU NEVER GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO LEAD

10. Live a Life of Servant Leadership

-Use the Bible as a model and a guide – Jesus was the best servant leader EVER during his time on earth

-Servant leadership shows that you care about others more than you care about yourself – SELFLESS

-Servant leadership is the best feeling – it is almost addicting

-THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IS TO SERVANT LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This post was written by Alan Stein.

As Notorious B.I.G. once said, ‘Things done changed.’

Players today are different than they were when I was growing up… and I’m not even that old. I know every generation says that… but it’s true.

One of the biggest changes to our society as a whole has been technology… more specifically the Internet… and even more specifically… mobile smartphones and social media.

What does that have to do with athletics?

Everything.

Sports have always been and will always be an interpersonal activity that requires human connection and communication.

Coaching is all about building quality relationships. As they say, ‘it ain’t about the X’s and O’s… it’s about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.’

But because of things like social media and the ‘everyone gets a trophy’ mentality, the Jimmy’s and Joe’s of 2015 are not the same as they were in 1995.

And even though we can’t stop the waves… we can all learn to surf.

Here are 22 tips for coaching today’s athletes…

1. Find out how to truly connect with your players. Find out what makes them tick, what motivates them and what is the best way to coach them (in front of their peers and behind closed doors).

2. Embrace social media and technology… it’s not going anywhere. It’s important to your players, so it needs to be important to you.

3. Learn to speak their language (I am not referring to profanity). The top 2 ways players communicate today is through text message and social media (particularly Instagram and Twitter). Learn to use those platforms.

4. Understand this: consistency breeds excellence – excellence breeds trust – trust breeds loyalty – loyalty builds a strong program. Be consistent with everything you do. Players won’t respect you if you don’t.

5. Encourage this 3-step mistake policy with your players – Admit it. Fix it. Don’t repeat it! The first time it is a mistake. The second time it is a decision.

6. Coach attitude and effort before X’s and O’s. Without proper attitude and effort the X’s and O’s don’t matter.

7. Clearly articulate your core values, principles and each player’s role. These are non-negotiable. They make up your program’s culture.

8. Players want to know the why behind everything. So tell them! Explain why you do what you do, why you believe what you believe, and why you expect ABC from them. The higher the perceived relevance, the higher the buy-in. And at the end of the day, a coach’s #1 job is to get buy-in from every member of the program.

9. Social media has created an abundance of superficial ‘friends’ – make sure your players know you truly care about them (on and off the court). That you have their back.

10. Don’t try to be ‘friends’ with your players. If you are too close to them personally you can’t hold them accountable. You should be a role model, a teacher and a mentor… but not a buddy.

11. Players all learn differently. Make sure you can effectively teach each type of learner (audio, visual, intrapersonal).

12. Players want to show their individuality (shoes, haircuts and especially with pre-game starting line-up announcement antics and routines). Don’t fight it. Have some leniency within your program rules. Respectfully, today’s idols and role models are a lot different.

13. Create a climate and culture that values people over productivity. Your players must know you care about them as a human being first and a player second.

14. If you want to know if you are a good coach…ask your worst player.

15. You’re either coaching it or you are allowing it to happen. You either accept it or correct it.

16. Replace ‘but’ with ‘now’ when instructing a player. For example, “I like your release, now try to get your elbow over your knee.” This minor change will make a huge impact.

17. Focus on what your players can be… not what they are.

18. Science shows that most people have a pretty firm definition of what is right and wrong by age 13. Hold them accountable. Ignorance is not an excuse. However, learn to choose your battles. Kids will be kids. If a players posts something stupid on social media… don’t condemn them for life. Use it to teach a life lesson. Hold them accountable, but use it to teach.

19. Players actually want to be held accountable.  It shows them that you care and are invested in their success.

20. Most of the players today have grown up in the ‘trophy generation’ – which has created an immense sense of entitlement. Players need to learn another ‘E’ word… earn. Create a system where players have to earn

21. Players today want to play immediately. They don’t understand the concept of ‘right of passage.’ Freshman want to play varsity. Young players want to play serious minutes. Learn to channel this desire but keep them focused on the process and the long term.

22. One of the biggest changes between the players of 1995 and 2015 is with the parents. Parents are much more involved and much more vocal (especially on social media). Parents can be a tremendous support system… or they can be a total thorn.
    I’m honored to be in the coaching fraternity.Alan Stein

    Hardwood Hustle Blog
    http://www.About.me/AlanStein