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Culture Building and Our Best Self

Iowa St. is not a football power house. In the three seasons prior to Head Coach Matt Campbell’s arrival, their record was 8-28. Campbell’s first year in 2016 the Cyclones were 3-9. Since then, the program has been trending upward: 8-5; 8-5; 7-6. Currently they are 8-2, ranked #9 in the country, and are sitting atop the B12 standings. 

I’m sure Coach Campbell is a phenomenal football mind; however, smart football people are a dime a dozen. His success, in my opinion, is because he is a culture builder. 

The word culture makes people cringe. It has become a buzz word. Culture is not ping pong tables, bean bag chairs, and casual dress.  Building culture requires deep internal work, self-reflection, and is centered on developing championship behaviors in the people of the organization.

The Best Version of Ourselves:

Through observation, I believe Iowa State’s culture is the pursuit of being the best version of themselves. In the press conference following their big win over Texas, Campbell mentioned “the best version of ourselves” multiple times. Here are three quotes:

“And the greatest thing that has allowed this team, and really our staff and probably me in general, is to put ego away and really evaluate and try to figure out how do you chart a course to become the best version of yourself you can be. “

“And then how do we do a great job of giving this program consistency and the opportunity to become the best version of ourselves we can be?

“Well, I think I’d be really disappointed if we didn’t get on the plane, flush it, and enjoy the fact we were able to win, and then by tomorrow, be ready to sit back and dissect it. And say, Man, what didn’t we do well? What do we need to get better at? How do we continue to improve. So if we want to continue to grow and have a chance to be the best version of ourselves we can be and reach our full potential, then we’ll have to come back and take that same mindset.” 

Can Iowa St. compete year in and year out with the blue bloods of college football? Probably not. But….can they work relentlessly toward being the best version of themselves? Definitely.  

What do Indiana Baseball and Iowa St. Football have in common?

It’s amazing how things come full circle. This spring, Indiana University’s head baseball coach, Jeff Mercer, met with our team via Zoom. We asked him a question about how he handles players who are disappointed with their playing time. His answer was magnificent. “You have to have a goal outside of the result. Everyone in our program’s job is to be the best version of themselves. Whether you played in the game or not, the responsibility is to be the best version of yourself.”

Coach Mercer is an outstanding person, and Indiana baseball is a tremendous program. Iowa St, under Coach Campbell, is on the rise. Maybe there is something to building a culture based on the pursuit of being the best version of ourselves?
(At the bottom of this article are two videos from Campbell and Mercer. Tell me you wouldn’t want to play for these men.)

Final Thought:

It’s easy to say an organization’s success is due to luck. It’s also easy to recite perceived advantages. However, when studying high performing teams, I’m blown away by their intentional approach to culture building. 

To some, a phrase like “the best version of ourselves” is soft. It doesn’t focus on winning or championships. I would push back and say simply having a goal of winning is soft. There’s no substance behind it. Watch a little kid, they want to win, and if they don’t they pout. The same unproductive behavior is frequently found in organizations focusing exclusively on results. 

Consider the idea of being the best version of ourselves. It is a challenging but rewarding pursuit. It’s 100% completely within our control. Everyone has a different starting point in life and circumstances are different. The starting point has nothing to do with the ability to be our best selves. It’s far from soft. It takes away all excuses. There are no outside comparisons. No envy.

It’s simply a mission to show up for those we love in the best way possible. 

What if everyone in your organization owned that goal? 

Reflection Question:

Could you or your organization benefit from shifting the focus to being the best version of yourself? 

Big Announcement Next Week:

I’ve been working on creating a culture and leadership course. Check it out!

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Wrestling with Judgment

This fall, Clemson football coach, Dabo Swinney, was facing an extremely tough decision.  His senior starting quarterback, Kelly Bryant, was playing well and owned a career 16-2 record as a starter.  Bryant was the back-up quarterback his freshmen and sophomore seasons to the magnificent DeShaun Watson.  Complicating matters was the arrival of true freshmen Trevor Lawrence.  The number one high school quarterback in the nation, Lawrence has the look of an elite NFL player: 6’6 with incredible arm talent and the swagger to match.  To start the season, Bryant was the starter but the freshmen Lawrence was getting significant game repetitions.

After the fourth game of the season, a 49-21 drumming of Georgia Tech, Coach Swinney announced they were making a switch at the quarterback position: Lawrence was named the starter.  A visibly shaken Swinney spoke with incredible vulnerability at the Monday press conference.

“It’s a bad day to be the head coach. Because I love Kelly.  It was emotional.  Emotional for him.  Tough day.  Because he’s played well and there’s not a guy that’s been, as long as I’ve been here, more committed to this program as Kelly Bryant.  There’s not a better leader.  The guy’s the epitome of what you want.  He’s what you want your son to be like.  I love him like a son.  So, it was a very difficult conversation and he’s very disappointed.”

Can you imagine being Coach Swinney?  Please don’t think in terms of a fan; instead, consider this from the human side.  Bryant has been in your organization for years, he accepted a glamour less position (backup quarterback), delivered strong results when given an opportunity (16-2), he’s a hard worker, great leader, and you love him like a son.  However, your judgement says the green first-year player is better for the job.  What do you do?

Rumbling with Judgement:

“I’m glad God ain’t a coach.  As a coach, you have to be critical.  Rank people. It’s hard man.  I’m thankful God ain’t that way.”  Dabo Swinney

I’m writing this article for any coach, manager, leader who rumbles with the idea of being judgmental.  Every leader I’ve met has struggled at points in their career with who to promote, who to play, what grade to give, how to distribute bonuses—the list goes on and on.

To make matters worse, the more elite the organization the tougher the decisions.  Think about the razor’s edge line that separates the competitor at a football program like Clemson.  It is no different than high-end talent in corporate America; almost every person within the organization is smart and hardworking.

If we accept the responsibility of leadership, difficult decisions accompany the position.  It’s a major part of sitting in the “Big Seat.”  Former Chairman and CEO of Intel, Andrew S. Grove, states in his timeless book, High Output Management, “We managers are required by the organization that employees us to make a judgment regarding a fellow worker and then deliver that judgement to him face-to-face.”

While there is no easy way to make difficult decisions there are some ways to help deal with the process.  First, I thought I would list a few ways leaders CANNOT make a decision.

What the Decision CANNOT BE ABOUT:

  1. Liking or Not Liking: the decision can never be personal. In coaching, while you may have different relationships with kids, you care about all your players.  The degree to which your personality connects or doesn’t connect can never dictate your decision.
  2. Potential with no results: There will always be players and employees with all the smarts and skills but they are not producing. At some point it has to be about results and not potential.
  3. Hard Work: hard work is a loose term. First, in most high functioning organizations hard work is common.   Second, someone can think they are working hard and they are either really not or they can be working on the wrong thing.  Regardless, hard work alone is not reason enough to promote or play someone.
  4. Age or Seniority: Seniority alone isn’t enough. Sure, the experience should help, but it doesn’t guarantee you a bigger role.  As legendary Cal Rugby coach, Jack Miller says, “all that matters is who can ball. Right here in this moment.”
  5. Comfort or what’s safe: “A decision like that could cost me my job.” Playing it safe and small should never be the reason for making a decision. If I’m going down, I’m going down with what I believe is right, not comfortable.

Three ways to Assist with Decision Making

  1. Clarity is King: Front loading the goals, objectives, measurable information and expectations are critical. Great leaders avoid being vague; instead, they are relentless with communicating both the goals of the organization and the expectations for the individual.  This can and should be accomplished in multiple ways but well planned one-on-one meetings is a powerful way to articulate the position of the organization.
  2. Discuss Results: If a strong job was performed articulating the goals, then discussing the results sans emotions is much easier. For example, discussing measureable date: speed, strength, on-base- percentage, and strike out rate are factual figures.  Sure, numbers can be debated but, for the most part, arguing numbers sounds a lot like excuse making.  Clear, accurate data helps make sound decisions.
  3. Using your professional judgment. This is where it gets tough for many.  One year we had a freshman who hit .180 in the fall.  He didn’t deliver the results.  However, every coach felt he was one of our best players.  I made the decision to start him based on mine and our staff’s professional judgment.  Numbers will tell a part of the story, but the human element will always be there.  A leader isn’t paid to simply analyze the numbers.  They are paid to make the decision that is best for the organization.

To Parents:

Sure, there are people in coaching positions that shouldn’t be.  However, the vast majority of coaches are good people who care deeply about the kids in their programs.  Their position requires them to be “judgmental.”  It’s tough.  They have to do what they believe is best.  Very rarely is it personal.  Coaches have different ways to assist them in making sound decisions.  For me, I am obsessed with making sure our players know there are no favorites.  I keep my head down around parents the majority of times- it can look “standoffish.” I know my weaknesses.  I just can’t allow parents feelings to affect my judgement.  Your child’s coach may have her own method that doesn’t make sense to you.  It’s ok.  Just understand they are human and trying to do what’s best.  That’s it.

Final Thought:

Over the years, I have agonized over the idea of being judgmental.  There have been several times I have come home and asked my wife, “Am I still a good person?”  I don’t like the part of the job that requires me to rank and critically evaluate.  Like Coach Swinney said, those are the times when it stinks being a leader.

I want to say thank you to all the leaders wrestling with judgement.  When times get tough, and they certainly will, remember that it’s not you it’s the position you hold.  If you were to step down tomorrow, you would not alleviate the struggle it would just be passed on to someone else.  Stay in the mud.  Stick with it.  Wrestle with the decision and do what you believe is right.  The world needs caring and thoughtful leaders.  Critics rarely know what it’s like to be in the arena.  Not all feedback is created equal.  You are not alone.   I’ll keep doing my very best if you’ll do the same.

Make it a great week.

Mike

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Positive Life Forces: Two Case Studies on Leadership

The Joe Burrow Story

On September 15, the LSU Tigers were in a tight battle against SEC West rival, Auburn.  LSU found themselves trailing 19-21 late in the fourth quarter.  Quarterback, Joe Burrow, orchestrated a beautiful drive which resulted in a game winning field goal as time expired; the final score, 22-21 LSU.

Hundreds of miles away, in Dallas, TX, the Ohio State Buckeyes were on the field warming up for their big matchup with the Horn Frogs of TCU.  On the Jumbotron scoreboard in AT&T stadium was the LSU and Auburn tussle.  The OSU players, staff and fans were seen celebrating as LSU came from behind for the win.  To be clear, this reaction wasn’t for LSU; instead, it was for their former teammate and friend, Joe Burrow.

After not winning the starting quarterback position in the spring of 2018, Burrow decided to transfer to LSU.  Transferring schools is never easy, especially in the competitive world of college football.  Amazingly, Burrow left on a high note.  Here were some of the tweets from OSU players when they found out Joe would be LSU’s starter:

“I’m smiling ear to ear RN (right now)”    – Mike Weber

“Yea…I see you Lil Joe.”    –  Jaylen Harris

“My Guy!”    – RaShod Berry

“I see you, bro!”    – Dwayne Haskins

The Hunter Pence Story

Hunter Pence is one of the most enjoyable players to watch in Major League baseball.  There is nothing pretty about his game.  His crude swing matches his rugged look.  He looks more like a mountain man than a baseball player.  I heard an interview with Pence this summer.  The reporter shared comments four rookies on his team, the San Francisco Giants, made about him as teammate and leader.

“Best teammate they’ve ever had.”

“You’ve always made them feel welcome.”

“Always had their back.”

“You’re the definition of a leader and the definition of a fighter.”

The hard-nosed Pence was fighting back tears as he listened.

Positive Life Forces

I don’t know Burrow or Pence, but they are positive life forces.  A positive life force is a person who positively impacts every situation they encounter.  Just walking in a room they make things better for those around them.  These folks are consistent in their effort and with their attitude.  Even in high-stakes and ultra-competitive situations they are kind and humble.

Positive life forces don’t have “bad days”.   As leaders, we should seek out these special individuals.  They are the people you want to go to battle with during the challenging times.  They’ll look adversity in the face and saddle up anyway.  Where they lack in skill or smarts they make up with toughness; not toughness necessarily in the physical sense (they likely have that too), instead it’s the toughness of maintaining high character every day.

Reflection

There will come a day when our careers are over or the time we have with an organization will conclude.  It’s important for us to reflect on how we want to be remembered.  Will people see us as being a good teammate?  A good colleague and friend?  Competent?  Will we be viewed as someone who was positive sometimes, but when things didn’t go our way, we were pouty and selfish?

Sports give us great examples to live by.  Both Joe Burrow and Hunter Pence have a lot to be proud of.  Sure, they are phenomenal athletes; they are the elite of the elite.  However, what I admire most is the kindness and integrity they display in challenging times.  Think about the way their teammates and former teammates pull for them.  You can’t fake that.  The only way to incite that type of reaction is to be a solid person day in and day out.

Make it a great week,

Mike

P.S. Who in your organization is a positive life force?  Have you showed your appreciation for that person recently?

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Water the Bamboo

The Story of the Giant Timber Bamboo

Giant Bamboo farmers plant a bamboo seed and begin watering the plant.  Everyday they tend to the bamboo.  In the first year, the bamboo seed fails to grow.  In the second year, still no growth.  During the third year the farmer continues to water the plant still there is no growth.  However, it the fourth year the bamboo seed grows 90 feet in 60 days!!!

Four Real Life Examples of Watering the Bamboo

  1. You are being extremely diligent with your sales calls. You are prepared for meetings and have a strong knowledge of the product.  However, you haven’t seen the growth in revenue that you expected.  Keep watering the bamboo.
  2. You set a goal to lose weight. It has been tough; you have changed your eating habits and have exercised regularly.  Unfortunately, the results haven’t come as fast as you like.  Keep watering the bamboo.
  3. As an athlete, you’ve put in the work. There’s been days when others have made poor choices and you did the “hard right” thing.  However, you are not seeing the playing time or having the success you expected.  Keep watering the bamboo.
  4. You are the first in the office and the last to leave. You care deeply about the organization; your colleagues turn to you when they need advice or help.  You’ve given your all to the organization, but others have been promoted ahead of you.  Keep watering the bamboo.

The characteristics of a bamboo farmer: patience, persistence and self-discipline are tough to find in our instant gratification society.  The question we need to ask ourselves is, “what are we doing today to help achieve our dreams 4, 5 or even 10 years from now?”  When the bamboo farmer is watering during those first three years it is very lonely.  Can you imagine what others who are less informed are saying about them?  “You’re wasting your time.”  “That plant is never going to grow?”

The challenge this week is to continue to think differently.  If you are following your dreams keep going. There will be no shortage of negative people who will find fault with your pursuit.  As Greg Bell, author of “Water the Bamboo,” says, “tell them to mind your own bamboo.”

Keep pushing,

Mike

 

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Are You a Critic or a Performer?

“We have two options: We can be critics or we can be performers.  But, we can’t be both.” – Author and Public Speaker, Michael Port

I used to be a critic.  Of course, I wouldn’t have labeled myself judgmental.  I would have said I was being observant or learning from the mistakes of others.  Really, I was a critic and not a performer.

For years, I wanted to write and share ideas with the world.  I feared what the reaction would be.  “Instead of writing, you should spend more time on your baseball team?”  “Who does this guy think he is?”  “He’s really not that great of a writer.”  I blamed it on the fear of outside critics.  In actuality, I was afraid of the biggest critic, myself.

When I made the choice to become a performer several things happened:

  1. I started doing. I wrote.  I made mistakes.  I learned a lot.  I failed.  I succeeded.  Instead of ideas living only in my head, I shared thoughts with the world.
  2. I ceased critiquing others. Instead of being in a judgmental state, I watched other performers with appreciation.  Exposing yourself to the world is difficult; I admired those who had the courage to be vulnerable.
  3. I lessened the critiquing of myself. I’m still my biggest critic.  I have insecurities, however, I’m much more forgiving now.  There’s a typo (big deal), I stumble during a presentation (it’s happens), I mismanage a situation (I’m human.)
  4. I began attracting other performers in my life. Performers will always have critics (more on that in a moment).  However, life’s current has lead me to people who share similar goals and values.
  5. I’ve been presented with awesome life experiences. Performing has led me to some incredible experiences that would have never occurred without being “a performer.”

Inner Space vs. Outer Space:

Most people in athletics know the phrase, “controlling the controllable.”  A baseball player, for example, cannot control the results, but he can control his preparation, his thoughts, actions and behaviors.  Athletes get in big trouble when they begin focusing on things that are not in their control: the weather, the coach’s opinions, the fans, the reporters…..the list goes on and on.

As performers, it is critical we focus our attention on our inner space and not our outer space.  For me, I have to trust the process of writing and being authentic.  I’ve learned I am at my best when I write from the heart.  If I focus on what others may like, or not like (outer space), the article is not as powerful.  Once the words are on paper, I have to possess the courage to hit send.  That’s it- I can’t control anything else.

Short Story:

Recently, I had someone tell me another baseball coach was ribbing me for writing.  “He’s telling everyone how to live.  Who does he think he is?”

Hearing those comments really hurt.  I let outer space effect my inner space.  The person’s remarks were my biggest fear; I never want to come off as a “know it all.”  In fact, the reason I began writing was for clarity in my own life.  Hearing the criticism left me dejected.  The comments, coupled with some other struggles, led me to having a conversation with my wife, Lowrie.  In a moment of weakness, I questioned whether to take a break.  As a baseball coach, I have plenty of critics.  Why expose myself to more?  What about our kids?  Is it fair to have them judged more closely because of what I write and do for a living?

It’s amazing how life works.  This past week, two people who I really admire but have never met, reached out to me.  They were impressed I had the courage to share my thoughts.  In fact, they were struggling with some of the same issues and my articles helped bring them some clarity.  These two men were performers, not critics.  They are the type of people I want to be aligned with.  These positive interactions put things in perspective.  It also was a critical reminder that it is impossible to please everyone and critics are a part of life for the performer.

Final Thoughts:

Are you a critic or a performer?  If you are hesitating to pursue something in your heart my guess is you are too critical.  Being critical can prevent you from taking risk because of fear of being judged.

Join me this week in pursuing life as a performer.  While it’s not easy, many of life’s rewards are found on the other side of fear.  When we choose to focus on our inner space, and not our outer space, we are freed to make bolder decisions.

Choosing to live as a performer will increase our critics (for proof, get on a message board of any major college football program).  The world needs critics too.  However, I believe God’s plan for me is to “be in the arena” not sitting on the sidelines.  I encourage you to join me in the game!

 

Make it a great week,

Mike

Questions for this week:

What are inner space behaviors in your profession?  What are the outer-space behaviors?

Do you find yourself frequently critiquing others?

What is one action you can take this week to become a performer?

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Competition: What the National Championship Taught me about Competing

Competere vs. Competition:

The Oxford Dictionary defines competition as: the activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.  The synonyms are: rivalry, competitiveness, vying, contesting, opposition, contention, conflict, feuding, battling, fighting, struggling, strife, war.

This is the common understanding of competition: me against you.  I win. You lose.  Now more than ever we are obsessed with “getting what we deserve.”  We are in competition with everyone and everything.  Who has the better job? Better car? Better family? Nicer home? Smarter kids?  The list goes on and on.

The word compete comes from the Latin word competere: to seek together, from Latin com- + petere  to come together, agree, to go to.  Brett Ledbetter, founder of What Drives Winning, challenges us to look at competition as “striving together to improve.”

A Lesson From Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa:

Jalen Hurts entered last week’s National Championship game with a 25-2 career record.  His backup, Tua Tagovailoa, was the #1 ranked quarterback in the 2017 class.  At halftime, Alabama was struggling.  They trailed Georgia 13-0.  The Crimson Tide Head Coach, Nick Saban, made the bold decision to replace Hurts with the true freshmen Tagovailoa.  Tagovailoa did not disappoint, he led the Tide to a 26-23 thrilling overtime victory.

What I appreciated most was the interactions between Hurts and Tagovailoa.  These are two ELITE level athletes.  Hurts is a physical specimen, and a proven winner.  Tagovailoa appears to have the talent and mindset of a NFL quarterback.   Powerful egos usually accompany such strong skill sets.  After halftime, you saw the two men embrace several times.  Hurts, the mentor, there to assist the talented true freshmen every step of the way.  After the game Tagovailoa stated that Hurts was the one who, “lead the team to a National Championship.”

This is what high-level internal competition looks like- two people who are personally driven to help the group reach their mission.  It’s not about any one individual; instead, it is the team.

A Thought For Parents:

Basketball season is in full swing and the beginning of baseball is on the horizon.  Now is a great opportunity to help your child distinguish between the different definitions of competition.  We can become consumed with internal competition and a negative environment gets created.  “Are you going to start?” “Why is John getting more shots than you?”  This hurts your child’s relationships and ultimately their experience.

What if you approached things differently?  Instead of asking questions that focus on their specific role ask questions about the team.  “How is the team looking?”  “Are you working hard to ensure the team reaches their goals?”  Or, “have you helped anyone get better?”

I know this is difficult and not common.  From experience, I can tell you that the athletes that focus on helping the group have a much better experience than the ones who are solely focused on “getting theirs.”

Final Thought:

We cannot be afraid of competition.  Higher level sports and business are about striving to win.  We can’t shy away from that.  What we can do is form a healthy way of looking at competition.  Instead of hoping and wishing ill of others realize that your competitor’s growth is actually helping you.  As they improve so do you, and vice versa.

Two elite level athletes, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, gave us a great example of what internal competition is really all about.  As a result of the way they handled a tough situation both can be called National Champions.

Make it a great week,

Mike

 

 

 

 

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“Sudden Change”- Being Your Best Despite of the Circumstances

What a great time of year for sports fans.  Tonight, the BCS National Championship will be decided, the NFL playoffs are heating up, and both the NBA and college basketball seasons are in full swing.

I challenge you to watch for something very specific tonight (during the Alabama and Georgia game): “sudden change” defense.  Sudden change situations take place when a turnover occurs and the defense is asked, unexpectedly, to retake the field.  The situation usually looks something like this: the defense does their job and gets a big stop.  They come to the bench physically and mentally exhausted.  They are looking for a few minutes to recharge and recover.  Then, their team’s offense or special teams makes a turnover.  Resting and recovering is now out of the window; they have to go back out and respond.  Here’s how Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers describes it:

“It’s a mentality.  It’s not like the selection of plays or coverage or fronts that you choose from change, but it’s just the defense responding to the adversity that the game of football presents.  Often times on defense, you have no control over what conditions or circumstances with which you take the field.  You have all the control over how you get off the field.  So, more than anything, it’s those guys checking in with one another and agreeing to rise up and meet the adversity head-on and putting the fire out.”

You can almost guarantee mistakes will be made tonight and in virtually any contest.  Sometimes we think the great teams never “mess-up.”  They do.  I have noticed that elite teams do a better job responding to the adversity.

We often tell our athletes that anyone can be good when the conditions are perfect.  When the weather is just right, the crowd is on your side and you have your “A” game.  The mark of a competitor is how they perform when you have your “C” or “D” game.  That’s when you have to reach deep down inside and deliver.

Sudden change situations are not just isolated to sports.  Life can, and will, rock your world from time to time.  We’ve all dealt with unexpected situations.  Everything is going smoothly- then BOOM- we are knocked off our game.  We need to remind ourselves, that while often it feels like we have more challenges than anyone on the planet, we are not the only ones dealing with adversity.  It’s just our time to, “rise up and meet the adversity head-on and put the fire out.”

This week, I am going to focus on being better in “sudden change” situations.  I don’t want to only be good when things are perfect.  I want to be a person that can be counted on when challenges arise; when things are not going my way.

Make it a great week,

Mike

 

 

 

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“I’m So Happy For You:” A Lesson in Grace from Dabo Swinney

Friday night, defending National Champion and the current 2nd ranked Clemson Tigers lost 27-24 to the  Syracuse Orangemen.   Many people would call this a “devastating loss.” The likelihood of Clemson having the opportunity to defend their title is unlikely.  In addition, we must remember that major college football is a business.  The Clemson football program is valued at close to a billion dollars.  The pressure of winning every week, pleasing a fan base with unrealistic expectations, and dealing with administration has to be daunting for the Tigers Head Coach Dabo Swinney.  That is why his immediate reaction to the set-back was incredible.  First, during the post-game encounter with the Orange’s Dino Babers you could see him say, “I’m so happy for you.”  If that wasn’t enough, Dabo went into the Syracuse locker room and congratulated the Orange players.  We can learn a lot about the character of a person in high-leverage situations.  Coach Dabo answered the bell.

Dabo provided us with a great example of how to display class in a loss.  Many coaches and leaders, myself included, will be forced to analyze their behavior following a set-back.  With that being said, I’d like to explore deeper what it takes to be gracious in defeat.  In my opinion, this wasn’t an “in the moment” response by Coach Dabo; instead, this response was from years of internal work.  Anyone can muster up an “eyes down” congratulation handshake but genuine happiness is different. Here are a few things to consider.

  1. Maturity- Leadership Coach Rod Olson says, “immaturity at its core, is only thinking about yourself all the time.” Maturity would require just the opposite, thinking about others.  If we are so wrapped up in ourselves, it is impossible for us to appreciate the joy and happiness others are experiencing.  Dabo displayed amazing maturity by being able to recognize a special moment for a coaching colleague.  He was able to pause and reflect that Coach Babers and the Orange have been through a lot over the last several years.  That their win against Clemson was a accumulation of hard work, sacrifice, and set-backs.  Dabo had the maturity to think of others in that moment.
  2. Competition- Somewhere along the line we have been taught that competing requires an adversarial relationship.  It’s either I win, or I lose.  The Latin definition of competition is, “to strive together.”  Brett Ledbetter from, What Drives Winning, challenges us to view competition as a partnership.  Just like a boxer cannot get better without a great sparring partner, a team cannot reach their pinnacle without elite competition.  Clemson’s sparring partner, Syracuse won on Friday night.  Why wouldn’t you be happy for someone you have trained with over the years?
  3. Self-Worth- From everything I have read, Dabo is a person of faith.  He knows that wins and championships do not define his existence.  If you check the Clemson fan message boards, you can be sure that some fans are FURIOUS with Dabo.  “Did you see him hugging the other coach?” “He didn’t even care we lost.”  “Instead of congratulating the other team he should have been screaming at his team.”  Coach Swinney “gets it.”   He knows that a loss (or a win for that matter) is nothing more than an opportunity to learn.  Why make it more than it really is?
  4. Presence- In high-leverage moments it is easy to let your mind race.  “There goes the hopes of a title.”   “I let everyone down.”   “What will my boss think.”  “I’m going to get fired.”  Dabo could have let all his thoughts about the future impact his present decision making.  Instead of projecting into the future, he had the ability to stay present which allowed him to authentically enjoy the special moment for Coach Babers and the Orange.  As I write this, my guess is Dabo is now on to the next present moment task, whether that is having breakfast with his wife, breaking down film or connecting with an athlete.

Can you be better when things don’t go your way?  Can you be better in defeat?  Most people will see this as a lack of competitive spirit or toughness.  Let’s be better than that.  Dabo Swinney is the coach of a National Champion; his graciousness in defeat does not make him “less of a man” or less of a competitor.  It just means he’s a human who has an amazing ability to enjoy the success of others.  What a great gift.

Be Different,

Mike
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Coachability, trust and some nuggets from Urban Meyer

“Lead with the left foot. Don’t cross your feet.”  These were the words from my boxing instructor last July when I was learning the craft.  “Move your head.  Your just standing there like a robot.” Here I was, a coach for over 13 years.  I was the one used to giving the instructions…now the shoe was on the other foot.  When I was working the punching bag I was able to move in the correct pattern, my head bobbed and weaved, and I was able (at times) to execute.  But when I sparred it went all out the window.  I would cross my feet and oftentimes stand in the middle of the ring.  I have long arms and I would use them for defense; bobbing and weaving were out the window.  Basically, when the lights went on I didn’t do a thing that I was taught.

My instructor clearly told me what to do.  I knew the “right” way and I still couldn’t perform.  Did I lack coach-ability?  Would you label me as “uncoachable”? Could I  “not be coached?”

Of course this is just not limited to sports. You have a new software system in place.  You provided the training.  The software works really well for you; however, you have a few members on your team who just will not get on board.  In the education profession, teachers are asked to submit progress reports.  Your directions are clear and concise.  With that being said, there are still a number of teachers who are resistant to the change.  The list goes on and on.   Every profession has its issues.

In my profession, coaches typically resort to name calling or labeling in these situations.  Whatever the term used: “uncoachable,” lacks coach-ability, entitled,
“he thinks he knows everything,” etc etc- we basically deflect the blame and put it on the student.  We may go as far as claiming the person “doesn’t want it bad enough” or that they lack the intestinal fortitude to be great.

Yes, there are those students, athletes, and employees who just don’t get it.  They have poor attitudes and just are not going to change.  However, the vast majority of people are extremely coachable.  The problem lies not in desire but more in a lack of trust.

Trust
Ohio State head football coach, Urban Meyer, delivered a speech on developing trust at the Mississippi St. Coaching clinic (see link below for the full lecture).  As leaders, we all want results.  Before we get results, we must first develop trust, followed by commitment and teamwork.  Leaders have a tendency to gloss over trust.  “I’m the coach, CEO, owner, teacher, or manager- everyone should trust me.”  Guess what? In 2016 it doesn’t work that way.  Let’s look at the “Three C’s of Trust” according to Coach Meyer.

  1. Character- “Repeated experiences of you doing the right thing over and over.”Sure, we all talk about character and we like to think that we are “good people.”The people we lead are constantly evaluating; they want to know if we have their best interest at heart.They want to know if you are a person of your word.They want to know if you love your family.Character is living and breathing; character evaluation never ends.Also, character is telling the truth.It’s saying, “I made a mistake.”Well-intentioned leaders often sabotage their character trying to protect their image instead of taking the blame.If your people doubt your character you will never completely earn their trust.
  2. Competency- “Repeated experiences of them watching you do your job well over and over.” This generation can see through the fluff.They know if you are prepared and on point.Leading is exhausting.Every team meeting is like playing a national championship to me.Every time you meet with your team, class, or unit is an opportunity to display your knowledge.If you lack competency your team will lack trust.
  3. Connection- “the ability to connect with your people.”As we advance in age or title the challenge becomes greater to relate to your people.And, in an organization that is growing, the physical distance can also be difficult.If you are a CEO and rarely meet face-to-face with your reports, the connection will be lacking and so will the trust.As Simon Sinek states, in Leaders Eat Last, “Abstraction kills.”A quick way to kill trust is to have no connection.

First You Must Trust Yourself
There is one more layer to the topic of trust that is often overlooked: you have to trust yourself.  Please let me explain.  We coaches and leaders are quick to call someone “uncoachable” or “stubborn” when they don’t follow our instructions.  Oftentimes they just are not trained at a high enough level, yet.  Going back to my boxing lessons, I can promise you I wanted to do everything right.  However, once we went live, I knew I was going to get hit if I was thinking about “left, slide right” instead of watching for my training partner’s right hand.  It wasn’t me “not wanting to” as much as, “I’m not ready for this.” As the Greek lyrical poet Archilochus said, “We don’t rise to our level of expectations we fall to the level of our training. “

This Week’s Challenge
As we move forward in your leadership journey let’s be slow to label and judge our people.  Before we claim someone is stubborn, lazy or insubordinate- let’s first evaluate some things:

  1. Do we have things in the right order: TRUST, commitment, and teamwork, followed by results?Or are we expecting commitment, for example, before we have earned the trust??
  2. Analyze your Character, Competency and Connection.Be honest.Where are you falling short?
  3. Are you mistaking Coach-Ability with lack of Training? My guess is the vast majority of your people want to please and do things right.Your job is to create a safe environment for them.

Here’s the competitive advantage for us: the majority of coaches, teachers and leaders blame the players, students and employees.  They lack the toughness to analyze their shortcomings.  Remember, the leader sets the pace.  If you are not getting the results you want it is more than likely a trust issue.  What are you willing to do to earn their trust??

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