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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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Listen: Identifying Grit in Prospects

Grit: Physical and mental toughness; perseverance; the ability to overcome obstacles.

Today, most people think things should come easy.  The word we often hear is entitlement which Webster’s defines as, “a belief that one is deserving or entitled to certain privileges.”  There is a misconception that success comes easy; that one should not have to struggle, stumble or encounter adversity to be successful.

What a competitive advantage, displaying grit! Being willing to work harder and longer is more critical than ever.  While others mistakenly expect life to gift wrap them success we can take pride in earning our rewards.  There’s no real success without struggle and strife.  So, this week when life throws you a road block; pause and be thankful.  Your grit is being tested and I know you will win!

I don’t know about you, but I actively seek to hire or coach people who have failed and kept on going.  Grit comes in many different forms. I hope you enjoy this 3-minute segment where I discuss identifying grit in prospects.

Make it a great week,

Mike

 

 

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Listen: Engaging a Younger Generation

If you want to break the ice with a group of baseball coaches say this, “Kids have changed.  They are so soft.”  It won’t work on every coach, but this will usually lead to a long conversation about how kids “don’t get it” anymore.

Are you guilty of this?  I know I have fallen in to the trap at times. Sure, complaining can make you feel better.  And, if you choose to complain about the younger generation you will have no shortage of people who will lend you a supportive ear.  There are a few problems with this:

  1. The problems of today’s youth are grossly exaggerated.  If you need proof, do a quick google search of quotes on the problems of past generations.  You will see that for hundreds, and even thousands of years, the older generation has been incredibly disappointed with the youth.
  2. Complaining is not going to help solve the current problems we are dealing with.

Leaders are always looking for ways to improve and provide their organization with a competitive advantage.  A huge competitive advantage for our team or organization is how we choose to engage the younger generation.  In a recent interview with Joe Ferraro we discussed three key ways to engage this critical population:

  1.  Make a Connection- The younger generation wants to know you.  They want honestly, vulnerability, and human touch.  The younger generation demands that we get out of our comfort zone and connect.  Please don’t mistake me, this population wants pushed and held accountable.  However, they want it done by someone who they know and love.
  2. Provide Freedom- This generation is smart and they can often do things faster and better than you.  Here’s the rub: they don’t want to do it your way.  Today’s elite leader will need to check their ego at the door and be more concerned with getting it right than being right.  It is critical to set high-expectations and demand accountability; however, we must provide our people the freedom to own the process.
  3. Provide Opportunities for Growth and Contribution: The younger generation wants to do meaningful work and they want to know they have the ability to develop.  Sure, not everyone can have the role they desire but as leaders we can do a better job showing how every role matters to the success of the organization.  And, equally important, leaders need to provide opportunities for their people to develop.  If you are not growing you are dying.  The elite leader should be excited to help in this critical area.

The majority of coaches and leaders are in the habit of complaining about the younger generation.  This behavior is non productive at best, and frequently it is devastating to an organization.  This blaming and complaining by others is a competitive advantage for us.  This week, I am going to look for ways to be a better serve the younger generation.

Have a great week,

Mike

 

 

 

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Listen: Cultural Development Strategies

Culture Developmental Strategies

It’s been too long.  The start of the season has made it challenging to keep up with the weekly newsletter post.

For the next several months, it is going to be a struggle for me to create weekly content.  I want to try something new during the course of the baseball season.  Joe Ferraro, from KWB Radio, recently interviewed me.  We touched on several topics that I believe will be beneficial to you.  The interview has been edited to roughly 3-5 minute segments that I think you will enjoy.

This week’s segment focuses on the six steps to culture change:

  1. Face Reality
  2. Create Clarity
  3. Identify Your Why
  4. Win the Day
  5. Study the Results
  6. Adapt your Strategy

I hope you enjoy the new format.  Connecting and growing with you over the past year has been incredible for me.  Please stay in touch!

Coach Deegan

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The Best of 2016

Thank you all for a great 2016.  The best parts of writing have been learning and connecting with amazing people like yourself.
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Misconceptions about Success and Greatness

Facts About Coaching Greats:

  • After 6 seasons, Bill Belichick’s head coaching record was 41-55.
  • Cowboy’s coaching legend, Tom Landry, experienced his first winning season in year seven of his career. His winning percentage during that time was .311.
  • John Wooden did not win his first national championship until year 17. He could never win the “Big One.” Ten National Titles later he proved people wrong.
  • Mike Krzyzewski’s record was 111-106 in his first eight years as head coach and 38-47 during his first three seasons at Duke.
  • In 22 years as a Big League skipper Jim Leyland experienced ten losing campaigns.
  • Four-time Super Bowl winning head coach, Chuck Noll, had a 51-60 record in his last eight seasons. His first three years as a head coach he compiled a 12-30 record.

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Misconceptions About Success:
  1. It comes easy: Studying coaching greats, you can see that most, if not all, struggled at some point in their career. If you want to be great, be prepared to fail.
  2. The path is straight: There will be peaks and there will be valleys along the journey. Stay humble when you are on a peak and confident when you are in a rut.
  3. Reaching the summit is the best feeling in the world: Please watch the video below (it is the best TEDx  talk that I have seen) about Alison Levine’s experience conquering Mount Everest. The journey is more memorable than conquering your goal. “Lessons From the Ledge.”
  4. Hard work guarantees success: Somewhere along the line we developed the idea that hard work means you will get the results you want. It doesn’t. There are no guarantees. That is the beauty of it.
  5. There’s no such thing as luck:  Call it want you want, timing or being in the right place at the right time; there is often an element of luck involved. Most highly successful people are humble enough to acknowledge that circumstances, at some level, played a huge part in their success.

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Are You Struggling?
Have you ever been frustrated with your lack of success?  You have a clear goal.  Maybe it is a weight loss goal.  Possibly you’ve dreamed of greater financial success or climbing the corporate ladder. You’ve changed your habits.  In addition, you have worked hard; really hard.  While your friends and colleagues have played, you’ve sacrificed.  You are doing all the right things, BUT, here is the hard pill to swallow….the results have actually gotten worse!

Sports can teach us a lot. The graphs display results of some of the all-time coaching greats.  We are talking the top 1% of coaches in their given sport.  There was adversity in their careers. We have developed misconceptions about success.  We believe that John Wooden never had a player upset with him.  You can guarantee he did (there are stories of disgruntled Wooden players).  We believe that Coach K was able to experience immediate success.  It is not true; in his first eight years he was around a .500 coach.

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My Advice to Myself:
I have a few pieces of advice after studying some of the titans in coaching.  Please understand that the advice is for myself.  Hopefully, my reminders, can assist you as well.

  1. Never compare your journey to someone else- The goal is to experience our best self;  comparing will only lead to arrogance or frustration. Neither are admirable.
  2. Focus on the next 200 feet- Sometimes goals seem insurmountable. Chunk it down. Focus on winning segments of the day. Looking too far ahead will make you want to stop.
  3. Embrace the valleys- Yes, there are going to be challenges along the way. Everyone experiences struggle. Who are we to think we are above adversity? Be different. Take a challenge; adjust our thinking. We are in this position for a reason.
  4. Connect with others– Along the journey we will encounter special people. Don’t take them for granted.
  5. Help someone- There will be times when you have the ability to enhance someone’s life experience. Do it.
  6. You’ll need assistance along the way- Your success will be the result of many things but none more important than the people you are surrounded by; parents, spouse, friends, bosses, administrators and your assistants. There is no way you can do it alone. Don’t forget it.
  7. Stay in the Fight- the best coaches of all time very rarely reached the ultimate prize (Super Bowl Champs, World Series Champs, National Champs). However, they never “gave a season away.” Each opportunity is special; treat it as such.
  8. Everything is not in our control- What if Tom Landry got fired after his fifth losing season in a row?  Is he still considered great? What if Coach K doesn’t get hired at Duke after going 9-17 in his last year at Army? Would he be the coaching icon he is today?
  9. You will face critics- Your name will get drug through the mud. You will upset people; sometimes you will be to blame and other times you will not. Accept it, apologize sincerely, and move on. I wish it could be seamless; however, it is not.
  10. It’s not about reaching the summit- Treat others well, work hard; “smell the roses” and develop deep relationships. Understand that the end goal is not the most important thing; instead, it’s what you experience during the journey.

I don’t know much, but I do know we have a misunderstood concept of what success and goal pursuit actually looks like.  If you are doing the right thing and not getting the results you want, join the club! Success isn’t a straight line; just look at the legends of coaching.  Let me say it again, we are talking about elite level coaches! You can clearly see their careers were not exempt from struggle, nor was their success a perfect climb.  Why would we expect ours to be? You are in insanely good company.  Put your nose down, keep working hard, be kind, enjoy the journey and understand that you are exactly where you need to be.

I don’t know about you, but this week I’m going to embrace this moment in my quest.  Great things are destined to happen; however, it isn’t going to happen on my time or exactly the way I planned.  Thank you all for being a huge part of my journey.

With much respect,

Mike

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A Simple Way to Make an Impact: The Handwritten Note

Happy New Year!  Are you looking for a simple way to make a difference in 2015?

Commit to writing more handwritten notes.

I have a great friend who owns a radio station in Marietta, OH.  Several years ago, he challenged me to write five handwritten letters a week.  To date, I haven’t been able to keep up the pace of five a week; however, I am confident that the notes I have sent out have been well received.  The general theme of my blog is “Life Lessons Learned through Athletics.”  First, let’s take a look at two handwritten notes and one typed note from athletics.

1. Fall 2013.  Kansas State hosted  a FCS opponent North Dakota State in their season opener. Although NDSU is a perennial power, the smaller school was not supposed to have a chance against Kansas State.  In a very tight, physical game NDSU defeated KSU 24-21.  If you follow college sports you know that there is a ton of pressure to win.  Programs like Kansas State are supposed to dominate smaller schools, compete for conference and even national championships.  A loss against a FCS opponent brings ridicule and can often lead to the firing of the coaching staff.  What’s amazing about this story is not NDSU “slaying the giant”; it is about how KSU’s head coach, Bill Snyder reacted.  What was Coach Snyder’s reaction? He wrote NDSU’s star quarterback, Brock Jensen, a handwritten note.

Following a devastating loss, Coach Snyder reacts by sending a classy note

Following a devastating loss, Coach Snyder reacts by sending a classy note

2.  The “Iron Bowl” is one of the most intense rivalries in all of college football.  The game means everything to the fans of both Alabama and Auburn.  Alabama’s kicker, Cade Foster, had a tough game in their 2013 loss missing all three of his field goal attempts.  He received death threats on social media following the game.  Former President, George Bush, took the time to write the discouraged kicker.

Our 43rd President took the time to pen a letter to #43 for the Crimson Tide

Our 43rd President took the time to pen a letter to #43 for the Crimson Tide.

3.  Recruiting is a competitive environment.  If you have ever recruited, you know that it is crushing when a prospective athlete chooses another school.  So much time and energy are invested into the prospect that very strong emotions, even anger, can overcome you.  In 1980, Coach Krzyzewski lost a decent player to arch rival North Carolina.  Did Coach K respond by telling Michael Jordan what a bad choice he made?  Did he bash UNC and Coach Dean Smith? No, he sent Michael Jordan a letter.

Pure Class

Pure Class

Please allow me to pass the challenge on to you, increase the number of handwritten notes you send this year.  Here are some specifics for the challenge:

  1. Write five handwritten notes a week: You can do this.  Head Virginia Tech Basketball Coach, Buzz Williams, wrote 425 letters a week when he graduated college.  If Coach Buzz can write 75 notes a night, we can surely do five a week.  Here is a blog post from Coach Buzz describing his passion for note writing.  He is one of my favorite leaders to study. http://coachbuzzwilliams.com/2014/10/handwritten-notes/
  2. It Must be Handwritten: Emails do not count.  Take the time to “put pen to paper.”  We’ve become inundated with email; we’ve almost become desensitized to email.  A handwritten letter leaves a much bigger impact.
  3.  Make sure some letters are to people who can do nothing for you: Sure, we all want to send letters to potential employers or donors, but I challenge you to write to someone who cannot help you.  What you will find is that by lifting their spirits you will also lift yours.

Let me share four handwritten note experiences that are very special to me:

  1. My Aunt Maureen sends me a birthday card every year that includes an update on her family.  She has been sending me these letters since college.  I look forward to receiving her card and note in the mail every September.
  2. One of my favorite things to do is give our seniors my favorite book, The Alchemist.  I’ve been doing this for several years dating back to my time as an assistant at Marietta College.  The best part for me is writing a note in the back of the book to each individual.  Corny, maybe?  But my hope is the book (and note) will help them at some point in their life.
  3. Following our first National Championship in 2006, I sent handwritten letters to 50 coaches that I dreamed to work for.  I received several responses but one note resulted in a mentorship that I greatly value.  One simple letter has resulted in nearly a decade relationship that has had a tremendous influence on my career.
  4. Last year, a close friend of mine gifted me the book, “David and Goliath” by Malcolm Gladwell.  The book was great; however, what I value most is the note on the inside cover.  I’ve read the book twice; I’ve read his note countless amounts of time.

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I’d enjoy to hear your stories on how handwritten notes have impacted your life.  Please send me your story or provide me with an example of the power of a handwritten note.

Be Outstanding,

Mike

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Lessons Learned at the Race Track

Don’t judge me- I spent a lot of time at the Meadows Racetrack as a kid.  My dad loved the horses, I loved my dad; therefore, I ended up loving the race track as well.  By the time I was ten years old I could read a racing program with the best of them.  I could tell you the best drivers (I went to harness horse races, they were drivers not jockeys) and trainers at the Meadows; in addition, I could tell you the difference between an exacta and an exacta box.  As a ten year old, I wanted to grow up to be either Ozzie Smith or a horse race driver.

Amongst the cigar smoke and beer, a kid can learn a lot at the racetrack (for the record, I never saw my father take a drink of alcohol or smoke).  Today, I will discuss the lessons I learned and how they apply to baseball and leadership.

1.  Statistics can be misleading- There is a ton of information in a racetrack program- some people would spend an exorbitant amount of time analyzing the data.  While it is important to look at the information, somethings can be misleading.  For example, you could look at two horses and see one ran the last race in 2:00 and another horse ran it in 1:57.  On the surface, it looks like you should go with the 1:57 minute miler.  But what if horse A raced on a 1/2 mile track (which are typically slower) and horse B raced on a 1 mile track?  Or, what if horse A has a more experienced driver this week- could that make a difference in its performance?

In baseball, we have become inundated with statistics and numbers.  If we are not paying attention to analytics we are missing out on a great opportunity to help our programs.  However,  we cannot allow the numbers to paralyze us; especially in the college game.  Most of the statistics we receive are numbers from the pro game.  Call me “Johnny College Guy”, but if there are runners on 1st and 2nd with 0 outs, and we are down a run in the 9th, we will be bunting 99 out of 100 times.  On a side note, if the same situation occurs in the 1st inning will be bunting 95 out of 100 times.

Just like evaluating horses, you must respect the numbers but also realize that they are…just numbers.  Some of the best handicappers trusted their gut when “picking their ponies.”  My advice in baseball (and business) is to gather as much information as possible and then make a bold, decisive decision. Numbers can lie.

2. Long Shots Can Win

If you go to the races long enough you will see a 30-1 shot win.  No matter how poorly the horse performed in the past, how bad of a driver was leading them, or how great the competition- as long as you were in the race there was a chance.

At Marietta, we were always the hunted- it was like having a bullseye on your chest.  We were a measuring stick for a lot of programs.  During my years there we were beat by many “long shots.”  I learned to always prepare regardless of what the competition looked like on paper.  Coach Schaly and now Coach Brewer never “saved” a pitcher for another opponent.  If your best pitcher was ready- he threw regardless of the situation.  Those men knew that you could be beat on any given night.

At Denison, I learned what it was like to be the underdog.  My experience at the track allows me to get excited to play the best teams regardless of what the match-up looks like on paper.  We want to play the best teams and see their best pitchers.  Games are not won or lost based on previous results unless you allow yourself to be beat mentally prior to the contest.  If you are in the arena you have a shot; long shots can and do win.  You must go into every battle expecting a positive result.

3.  Pay Attention to the Bloodline

My dad always wanted to know the mother and father of the horse.  He was a big believer that the physical and mental traits of the parents would eventually emerge in their offspring.  Even if the horse failed to perform to date, dad would say, “His father was a competitor.  He’ll be good one of these days.”

For the past two years we have tried to find players that are “good fits” for our program.  However, you are not just recruiting the player you are also recruiting the family.  As we all know, parents are involved in the lives of their children more than ever before.  We want to make sure that the parents understand and share our vision for the baseball program.  We explain our core principles and try to drive home that we are committed to playing who we believe are our best players.  When it comes to playing time, it is never personal, it is a meritocracy.  Our staff makes mistakes, my wife thinks I’m wrong with who we play and parents do as well; however, we are trying to put the team on the field that gives us the best opportunity for success. I believe this is critical to the health of your program.  If the parents display red flags during the recruiting process there is a strong chance that problems will develop later.  Our goal is to recruit motivated, young men from strong families.

4.  It’s More about the Driver than the Horse

Year after year you would see the same drivers at the top of the standings for wins and winning percentage.  Some people just had a knack for getting the most out of their horses.  Oftentimes, the best drivers would be asked to drive two or three different horses in the race.  Who they chose to drive would be a great predictor of who would win the race.

It seems like you see the same programs near the top of the standings every year.  They graduate great players, lose assistant coaches, and injuries occur; however they still have successful campaigns (Ohio State football just provided us with a great example).  I truly believe leadership is the most accurate predictor of success.

When I was younger, I believed that the drivers were successful because they had a gift- that they were simply blessed with the ability to win races.  Now I know that like any great leader, chances are they developed this “gift” by tirelessly working on their craft.

Every life experience provides an opportunity to learn.  At the time, being at the track meant spending time with my dad- there was nowhere I would have rather been.  Who would have thought those “tutorials” would still be benefitting me today.

Be Outstanding,

Mike Deegan

Here is a link to a video of Will Smith sharing his secrets to success.

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Study Leaders: Part 2- Observation and Listening

Coaching is leadership.  The one thing all coaches should start doing immediately is studying leaders.  In Part 1 I discussed how reading books and articles on leaders in industry and sports is critical to the development of a coach.  In case you missed it, below is a link:

The One Thing You Should Start Doing Immediately

In Part 2 of Leadership Study I will provide three ways in which you can enhance your leadership through observation and listening: utilizing podcasts, audio books, and videos; observing another coaching staff; and leveraging the knowledge of other coaches in your department.

If you don’t enjoy reading, or you struggle to find time; podcasts, audio books, and videos are a great way to gather knowledge.  As baseball coaches we spend a lot of time driving. During the summer we are traveling from one event to the next and the spring months are filled with time on a bus.  When I was younger this was my time to listen to music or talk radio.  As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to use this time to invest in gaining knowledge. Below are three Podcasts that you should know about:

1.  Top Coach Podcast- They do an amazing job of lining up top coaches from all levels to discuss their programs.

2.  KWB Radio Joe Ferraro and Kevin Wilson’s podcast focuses on hitting but they also have great guests with elite knowledge in all aspects of the game.

3.  Brian Cain- An expert in the “Mental Conditioning”, Cain has recently developed a podcast.

In addition to the podcast, I began investing in audio books.  Two guys who I regularly have in my headphones are Anthony Robbins and Brian Tracy.  Anthony Robbins is the master of providing tips to motivate yourself.  Brian Tracey’s “Goals Program” is definitely worth researching.

Every Tuesday are the press conferences for NFL coaches.  You can watch the majority of press conferences on nfl.com.  You can learn a lot simply listening to how these coaches discuss their teams strengths and weaknesses.

The second way to gather leadership information is by observing another coaching staff. This will be the best investment you ever make.  I have been to several conventions and clinics, but I have learned the most by watching other coaching staffs, hands down!  Heres’ some advice on how to make the most out of your observation:

1.  Pick a program that you or others admire.  Do some research.  Of course everyone wants to watch elite SEC and ACC programs work.  While seeing these programs is fantastic; oftentimes, they have staffing and other resources that makes it difficult to transfer the information to your program.  There are some truly outstanding small school coaches and high school coaches that are providing a great baseball education.

2.  Call or email the coach in advance. I like to speak to the coach prior to see if we can sit down either before or after for a conversation.  This is my favorite part of the visit and allows for great learning.  The majority of coaches will honor this request.

3.  Try to take one thing away that will impact your program.  Just like we tell youth campers, if you can leave with one nugget of knowledge it was worth the trip.  I wouldn’t look to change your whole  program; instead, I would try to find one powerful concept that you think will make a difference in your program.

Another great way to study leaders is to leverage the knowledge of other coaches in your department.  My favorite question to ask coaches, “What’s the one thing you are doing in your program that we should be doing?”  You would be amazed how much this one simple question has impacted me.  This year alone we have changed our player evaluation forms, how we handle our “leadership committee”, and our recruiting materials stemming from this question.  Many of your colleagues are doing really outstanding things; therefore, why not reach out to them and ask for advice?  It takes confidence and humbleness to seek out assistance from your peers.

Continual learning is an important part of leadership.  You and your program can learn a lot about leadership simply by observation and listening.

Two questions for you:

1.  What podcast, audio books or videos do you recommend?

2.  What coaching staff: high school or college would your recommend observing?

On Thursday we will discuss the final piece in studying leaders: surrounding yourself with people who are passionate about success.

Be outstanding,

Mike Deegan

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