I have questions. The first question I have is “where are we headed?” We live in a world that basically doesn’t work. We have territorial wars. We have religious wars. We have other ideological conflicts. It sounds like the world in 300 B.C. … so much for technology. We live in a world that is [...]
A key to leadership is the transformation that occurs when we see old things in new ways. Linear thinking is toxic to creative thinking. It is figuring out and ordering one’s actions in the swirl of a chaotic world. It is creating one’s own limitations. There are two skills that are a must for effective [...]
I am often asked, “What is it I do?” The simple answer and an accurate one, is I coach performance. Are there different pieces to the performance puzzle? Absolutely. Mostly people have their eye on the results. What I suggest is that worrying about the results will not get you the results. It is talking [...]
The May 10th issue of Sports Illustrated features an article titled, “Then There Were Four” by Chris Ballard. The story is about the actions Coach Mike Allen took with the basketball team at Gunderson High School (San Jose, CA). If you have seen the old movie Mr. Carter that starred Samuel L. Jackson you have [...]
One of the most frustrating things for coaches, business executives and leaders in all kinds of disciplines is the inconsistent performance of their teams. Of course, this also includes individuals on their team. The bookmakers in Las Vegas are well aware of inconsistency and, fortunately for them, they only have to figure out what will [...]
How do we get full engagement from people on our teams, in our projects and in our lives? What determines the quality of their performance? What has us able to be consistent with any group given the divergent points of view we are working with? I am not thinking about agreement … too limiting and [...]
Many times the five-, six- or seven-year-old wants to play a particular sport because of an adult's influence (Mom, Dad, Coach, etc.). Since it was really someone else’s choice in the beginning, it is important that they learn something and have fun in the process. Also, there will be varying levels of skill at the [...]
Given that it is “all-sports” season I have had the opportunity to watch practice for a variety of sports at various D-I schools. I have come away with the following question, “Is anyone listening?” These are teams coached by solid, respected coaching staffs. I would say that no more than 20% of the athletes at [...]
BLOG OCTOBER 01. 2013 I have followed University of Southern California football since the days of Frank Gifford and Lindon Crow. Both of these fine athletes grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California as did I. They were both key performers for the New York Giants in the classic playoff game between the [...]
There has been a big flap lately around the firing of Mike Price, Head Basketball Coach at Rutgers University and the subsequent firing of the Athletic Director. Even the President of the University came into question. I am not questioning the firing at all. I do question the “surprise and shock” going on around what [...]