The question any leader might want to ask each day is œhow is my team doing?  There is absolutely nothing anyone can accomplish by themselves.  It is an illusion that we continue to pursue that life is about œme.

As the Head Coach you are not going to gain a yard, score a point or make a catch.  I hear coaches talk about all the games they have won.  YOU havent won anything.  As a member of the team, in your role, you have provided much that your team needs.  Maybe there is a different point of view needed here.  Lets raise the bar on your effectiveness as a leader.  If you are interested in this, read on.

We grow up with a picture of what leaders do.  How they act and how they need to be.  Consequently, we are not looking at leadership from the most  effective place.  Perhaps, we have been led down the garden path.

The job of the leader is to serve, to be of service not self-serving.  This doesnt make the leader a servant.  Being of service means making sure each and every player and coach has what they need to be successful.

This isnt about hand-holding or coddling.  It is about looking at each and every player and their differences and providing anything from a pat on the back to a kick in the butt.  It is even more important that we continue to look at what does the team need.  Do they need instruction?  Do they need to know they are on track and to keep doing exactly what they are doing?  They just havent produced the result yet.  Maybe they need someone to be interested in them as a person;  not as a player.

There is a formula you might want to pay attention to. This is strictly mine so you wont find it in any scientific journal.  It goes something like this:

QUALITY RELATIONSHIP + EXTRORDINARY COMMITMENT =

ACCELERATED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

How can you possibly know what each person needs if you dont know them, REALLY?  How can you know what you are committed to if you dont know what they are committed to?  Every time a player (or any other person) learns something,  i.e., ANYTHING they are better at EVERYTHING across the board.

A Tip: When you talk to a player away from the practice field or court, have three subjects be off-limits:  their sport, academics or their conditioning.  Players think you only care about them if they are playing well.  Those three subjects are all tied to performance.  I didnt say never talk to them about these three.  Do it at practice or a special meeting.

Find out about their likes and dislikes.  Get to know about their family, what they did on the weekend or what they want to be when they grow up.  Dont judge them.  How they see things is their reality (the same goes for you).

If you are thinking œI dont have time to do all of this, you are telling me that you dont have time to do your job.  Preparing them to play (practice) is only one slice of the pie.   It isnt brain surgery.  Preparing them as human beings, now that is a task worthy of your time.  Please dont give me the œif I dont win I wont have a job routine.  How do you know that you wont win doing what I am asking you to do?  If you have won every game I would like to talk to YOU about winning.

The coach in our society has one of the most enviable positions a person can have.  You are totally acceptable the moment you show up.  You have to earn your way out of respectability.

If you dont think I know what I am talking about, run your own test.  Watch a group of 10 or 11 year old athletes when the coach walks on the field or court or in the room.  The first thing you will see and hear is the whispered œtheres the coach.  Especially true if it is their first time getting together with the coach.

You dont have to respect everything about them (or anyone else in your life), but you must find something.  Some players will make you work harder than others. Too bad.  Id worry more about what kind of bargain you are for them.  I do know this”Every person on the planet woke up today wanting their life to work.  They may not know how to do that or may be resigned that it never will.  That doesnt mean they dont want it.

Find out what they need and serve up a big helping.  Make sure of two things;  that they are having FUN and that they know you LOVE  them.