Sharing some notes that I have taken from some of my favorite leadership sources. Some of them, I hope you can use for yourself and your staff, others for your athletes, and most of them for both groups!

As with all of my posts, I am sure that you won’t agree with everything that is listed here and will probably find some that you either can use as is or that you can modify to meet your needs.

Kevin Eastman
Twitter: @KevinEastman

The mind & the attitude can have a major impact on how far one can go. The mind has to be “clutter free” and the attitude has to be “all in”!

Understand that trust has eyes & ears. It evaluates the consistency & authenticity of what it sees & hears. It takes its time to evaluate you!

Make sure the “give-get” percentages favor the “give”. Giving should be part of our make up. We all truly do have things to give & share!

As much as we like to tell people what we think it’s even more important to put thought to what we say. Hard to take words back!

Just as you work out physically, you must also get your repetitions in mentally. Challenge yourself with heavier mental reps as well. Stretch yourself!

Every so often a great exercise is to get away & just think about or remind yourself what you TRULY BELIEVE in; things that are non negotiable!!

Give yourself a chance to succeed. Success is about investment; adjustment; & commitment. Determine which, if any, you need to improve on!

To be a true teammate: must hold yourself accountable to everything you hold others accountable to. The one thing a true team is not: self centered!

Everyone says communication is so important-then why are we not as good at listening? It’s critical to success. We ALL need work on this SKILL!

To be a great teammate your pride will take a hit at times and your pride can never take precedent over the success of the team!

Being a good teammate is still doing your part when things are going bad for you. Being a good team is helping that Individual get out of it!

Consistency is a direct result of doing the right things the right way–now. Focus on the execution of now & discipline to do this every day!

A team will always have challenges and issues. That is where the strength of a team must show up: using everyone in anyway to get through them!

John Carrier
These notes were reposted with permission by John Carrier from his coaching blog. Here is a link to the blog: www.johncarrier.blogspot.com

I am currently reading Phil Jackson’s book, Eleven Rings. One gem I’ve pulled out in the first 100 pages is the “Bullseye Test” he uses with his players.

The Bulls eye Test is simple, yet insightful. Give each player a three ring bulls eye. Have them write where they feel that they are in terms of their connection to the rest of their teammates. Don’t give them any more than that. You can read a little more from the inside of the book at Amazon by clicking the cover of the book at the left, or you can click on this link: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

You then look at their bulls eyes and see how connected each person feels to our group. It also gives you a handle on how connected the team feels as a group. If they are very connected they are in the middle, if they feel kind of connected their name will be in the second ring, and if they don’t feel connected they write their name on the last ring or outside the rings. A lot of times it comes down to playing time – the more they play the closer to the middle they write their name. So you have to account for that a little bit when looking at them.

Once you’ve done the exercise, you can use them to have individual talks with your players. Ask lots of questions about why they feel that way, and if they are outside the middle how can we move them closer (without adjusting playing time of course). It will also help you determine if how to proceed with team bonding activities during the season. It’s something we will definitely use this season.

The following are some other notes he osted

John Tauer – St. Thomas University – Motivation

People are mostly motivated by three things:

Autonomy
Choice in life.
Give athletes choices in what drills you do inpractice (within reason).
Even one or two choices per practice can be powerful.
Togetherness
Individuals need to belong to something bigger than themselves and have a more powerful purpose.
Keep your finger on the pulse
Team building
Competence
Being good at things.
How can you put your athletes in positions to find success?
TJ Rosene – Emmanuel College/PGC – Building a Culture

Greatest Teammate Exercise
-Have players close their eyes and imagine the greatest teammate they ever had.
-Call on players to share the characteristics of that teammate.
-Make a team list of the traits of great teammates.
-Turn it around on them – why can’t EVERYONE on this team be a great teammate?
-Make the list into a “commitment list” that everyone is going to commit to (coaches included) and everyone will be held accountable to for the year.

Rocking Chair Statement
-As a coach, write a statement about what you want athletes to remember about you when you are old in a rocking chair on your front porch!

The Best At What They Know
-Everyone is the best at what they know.
-If you’ve got a problem athlete, they are likely exhibiting that behavior because that’s what they know.

Communication Must Haves
-Truth, Love, Transparency
-N.I.T.E
+Name, Information, Tone, Eye Contact
+Simple but effective

Open Mic Monday
-Do this as a team
-Players can stand up and say ANYTHING that is on their mind, especially things they are frustrated with.
-They can also ASK ANYTHING of teammates and coaches and will receive an honest answer.
-You must speak it in love and not anger.
*This is a GREAT WAY to make sure that issues stay in house and don’t ever boil over.

Lion vs. Sparrow
-Lion is content and confident. He doesn’t worry about anything he can’t control.
-The sparrow is always frantic.
-Lions play through bad calls, band bounces, etc without emotion.
-Sparrows constantly wine and complain
*Might change it to wolf and squirrel to fit Minnesota.

This article is courtesy of the Coaches Network

By Bruce Brown, Proactive Coaching

At the end of successful seasons we often hear coaches attribute the success to “we had great team leadership and chemistry”.  We also hear many coaches on unsuccessful teams mutter to themselves, “We just didn’t have any team leaders.”  The best team cultures don’t leave leadership to chance–they teach it.

Here are a few indicators that someone has some natural leadership ability.

Look for people with strong character

Character is the foundation for everything else.  It allows you to be consistent in words and actions.  It allows you to be depended upon, trusted, and followed.  When you find people with strong character, they need to be encouraged to lead at every opportunity.

Look for people who have the courage to stand up for what they believe

These people are naturally strong enough to be more concerned with what is right than what is popular.  Peer pressure isn’t their guiding force.  They do not sit quietly when something is wrong.

“In matters of taste, swim with the current, in matters of principle stand like a rock.”  — Thomas Jefferson 

Look for people who have a teachable sprit

They understand the importance of listening and learning.  They are not afraid to be challenged with new ideas or concepts.  They ask questions when they don’t understand.  They are able to take correction as a compliment.  Regardless of past successes or failures, they have a growth mindset and are trying to get better every day.

Look for people who are clear communicators

They speak in a way that others understand.  They don’t have to be the only voice or even the first to speak.  Look for people who listen intently, are willing and able to see things from different perspectives, and then speak so clearly it cannot be misunderstood.

Look for people who have a passion

Passion is the great motivator.  It spreads throughout the team and can be seen in intensity, determination, and enthusiasm.  Look for kids who are excited to be there and energized by the game and team.  Their eyes will tell you all you need to know.  They will be there early.  They love practice.  They will arrive in the right frame of mind, mentally and physically prepared prior to competition.

Look for fearlessness in competition

They are healthy risk-takers who have the confidence to play through mistakes.  They never quit, never pout, never slow down.  They are persistent and relentless.  They compete to win, not to avoid losing or making mistakes.

Look for problem-solvers

When there is a problem, natural leaders don’t look the other way or ignore it.  They don’t avoid them or “hope” they go away.  They take problems head on.  They look for solutions, not excuses or who to blame.  They spot small problems and face them before they become big problems and more difficult to solve.  They are capable of working cooperatively within a team structure to find resolutions.  When there are problems, they bring people together.

Look for people who are in control of their emotions

They have strong emotions, but they have learned how to control those emotions and channel them in a way that improves their personal performance and doesn’t give their opponents an edge.  They have ice in their veins.   They are at their best when their best is needed.  They are the face their team members need to see in good times and tough times.

Look for people who place truth over popularity

Not all decisions that are popular are good for the team.  There are times when worrying about being liked can actually inhibit team success.  Do not confuse popularity with leadership.  Decisions people make based on truth are always right and almost always take the team to a higher level.

Look for people who have a sense of humor

Humor adds a lot to any team.  When leaders can laugh and make others laugh, they are easier to follow.  Humor breaks tension, keeps teams loose and optimistic.   If you love what you are doing, let it show, have fun, lead the league in smiles.

Look for people who won’t give up

One of the most important characteristics in leadership is perseverance.  When teams are facing tough situations, they look to leadership to decide which path they will take.  When leaders quit, teams quit.  When leaders are relentlessly determined, the team will mirror their attitude.

Look for people with athletic assuredness

Teams need individuals they can count on when the game is on the line.  The best leaders are confident.  Athletic assuredness is not arrogance, but simply being comfortable in the most competitive situations.  They are at their best when their best is needed.  Even when they don’t “make the play,” they look forward to the next opportunity.   They never get too far up or too far down, but the look in their eyes says they are at ease and love these moments.  The best leaders are both confident and humble.

Look for people who can follow as well as lead

Natural leaders understand there are times when they need to be the ones who listen and follow.  Until someone has learned and demonstrated that they can be obedient, they are not qualified to give directions or expect to be followed.

“He who cannot obey, cannot command.” — Ben Franklin

Look for people who are doers, not complainers

Complaining is focusing on the problem without acknowledging or taking responsibility for the solution.  Complainers focus on what is wrong or difficult instead of what needs to get done.  They bring others down and nothing changes.  Real leaders do not waste the time or energy complaining —there are too many things to get accomplished and people are counting on them.

Look for people who understand and appreciate all roles that help the team

In 1982 the University of North Carolina basketball team won its first national championship under legendary Coach Dean Smith.  The NCAA awarded them 22 national championship watches.  Counting all the players, coaches, and managers, they had 23 people.  Manager Dave Hart said, “I was the youngest manager, so it was natural for me not to get a watch.”  Several days after the team arrived home, Coach Smith called Hart into his office.  They talked about the championship for a few minutes and then Smith said, “I appreciate everything you did this season.  You were as much a part of this team as anyone and I want you to have this.”  Coach Smith handed him a box.  Inside was Coach Smith’s own personal national championship watch.

I am not sure where I found this, but it has been in my files a while and I like it. As with all of the coaching tools we post, you need to pick and choose what fits you and your program and then work with the ideas until they do become your own.

1. THE DOUBLE WIN: Winning Coaches employ the DOUBLE WIN PHILOSOPHY which states that: Winning on the bottom line (wins and losses, profits, etc.) comes only as a direct result of winning on the top line (Investing in the academic, personal, and athletic development of the total athlete).
2. CONTRIBUTION: Winning Coaches develop systems that support a basic human need: the need to make a positive contribution. The greatest, but most difficult contribution, is allowing others to contribute to us. Winning Coaches remain open toward allowing others to contribute to them.
3. THE POSITIVE LEARNING CYCLE: Winning Coaches use a method of teaching in which there is no such thing as failure. The only source of competition for the athlete is with themselves in striving to reach their own greatest potential. Winning Coaches create an environment where setbacks and breakdowns are regarded as opportunities for learning, rather than failures.
4. THE STEPPING STONE METHOD: Winning Coaches employ the STEPPING STONE METHOD of steady improvement. This method involves building one small success after another, reaching towards the final or highest goal. The strategy of the coach is to progressively teach only those skills that are needed to empower the athlete to climb to the next level.
5. RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM: Winning Coaches develop an environment of responsible freedom where mutual trust, relatedness, and open communication are encouraged and acknowledged. Within the limits and guidelines of responsible behavior, an environment of safety is developed that encourages openness and honesty between the coach and players.
6. A BALANCE OF EXTREMES: Winning Coaches have learned to be both highly directive and highly supportive in their relationships with their players. They develop a supportive environment for constructive risk-taking and growth, and yet instill a demand for perfection that is unyielding.
7. INTEGRITY: Winning Coaches act as models and not critics. They foster a mutual commitment to Integrity through (1) actions and behaviors that are in alignment with personal values, (2), upholding all promises and agreements, and (3) through demonstrating their loyalty and commitment to their players. Through their personal integrity and commitment to their players, Winning Coaches earn the highest sense of integrity, commitment and loyalty in return.
8. OPENNESS: Winning Coaches fight to remain open. They resist the most common human tendency; THE NEED TO BE RIGHT, which inadvertently makes others wrong. Winning coaches take the path not taken; which is to remain open to innovation and new learning, as well as permitting themselves to be supported and directed by others.
9. SYNERGISTIC SYSTEMS: Winning Coaches develop and perpetuate an environment in which the system is greater than the sum of all the parts. The system creates a continuous s self-renewing chain of success.
10. STRUCTURE FOR FULFILLMENT: Winning Coaches create a structure for fulfillment that is based upon abundance as opposed to scarcity. This structure becomes a roadmap through which players are empowered to progress toward both their own personal goals, and to actualize the larger vision that is communicated by their coach.

These thoughts were collected from various sources.  Whether you agree or disagree with these statements, I hope you can take a few ideas that fit your needs, put some sustained thought and your own spin on them to turn them into something that helps you program.

1. A coach must possess mental toughness. A coach must be ready to practice every day.  The athletes realize when a coach is not prepared. The top coaches at every level are the ones that are mentally prepared every day.
2. Building character is the real commitment to winning. A coach who doesn’t stand by his or her convictions is doomed to be a big loser, regardless of the win-loss record.
3. Ability is what you are capable of doing, motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz
4. It is the loose ends with which men and women hang themselves.
5. The major part of a coach’s job isn’t to tell the players what to do. The most important thing I do is to create a setting for them to work in. I think that is the key to any coaches job—creating an environment that’s organized, free of distractions, ready.

 

6. A team has to be a melting pot. It’s going to face a lot of different challenges and it has to have a lot of potential responses.
7. Hustle isn’t a natural given talent. It’s something that a person develops through sheer will. It’s a state of mind.
8. Any team can be a miracle team. The catch is that you have to go out and work for your miracles.
9. Keep the faith in times of difficulty. Every team goes through a period of unusual difficulty. If you’re confident that what you’re doing is right, then just work at it harder.
10. It’s getting so everyone wants to harvest, but nobody wants to plow.

 

11. To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun
12. A great team isn’t built by just having top talent. It matters how these top talents combine with each other. Attitude and chemistry are the factors that kick people up to higher levels of winning, no matter what talent they have. A great collection of talent with unbalanced chemistry and poor attitude can get beaten by teams of lesser talent.
13. Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.
14. To have a great season requires not only a big commitment but a long and lasting commitment.
15. Nothing is carved in stone, you can change anything in your life is you want it bad enough.

 

16. Face it, nobody owes you a living; what you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime is directly related to what you do or fail to do.
17. All coaches have a powerful ally, but many are afraid to use it. It is the bench.  You can modify behavior. You cannot mold character.
18. Anybody who gets away with something will come back to get away with a little bit more.

 

19. The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders
    1. Link Paycheck to Purpose (The Ritual of A Compelling Future Focus)
    2. Manage by Mind, Lead by Heart (The Ritual of Human Relations)
    3. Reward Routinely, Recognize Relentlessly (The Ritual of Team Unity)
    4. Surrender To Change (The Ritual of Adaptability and Change Management)
    5. Focus On The Worthy (The Ritual of Personal Effectiveness)
    6. Leader Lead Thyself (The Ritual of Self-Leadership)
    7. See What All See, Think What None Think (The Ritual of Creativity and
    Innovation)
    8. Link Leadership to Legacy (The Ritual of Contribution and Significance)
    – from the book “Leadership Lessons from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma

 

20. Qualities of A Great Teacher
1. Model/mentor; teach kids individual responsibility; give players what they need,
not what they want.
2. Caring/loving
3. Wise use of time
4. Sense of humor
5. Have a mission (overriding purpose)
– Coach Don Meyer

 

21. 11 Hard Facts In Coaching High School Athletes
Coaching is a learning experience, in the same way that being a student or an athlete is a learning experience. Season after season, coaches have to learn more about game strategy, practice organization, community, and school relations, and philosophy.  Probably the best learning tools are sharing ideas with fellow coaches and dealing with young people. The coach who becomes more perceptive about how athletes think and feel is going to establish a better relationship with them and get more out of them. What exactly should every coach know about his or her players?

1. All players dream about being starters, but very few are willing to pay the price
for total commitment.
2. If the coach does not make them do it, it will never get done.
3. Players are looking for direction, though they may not realize it.
4. What motivates one player may not motivate another. The coach must discover
the trigger for each individual.
5. Unsupervised play creates more bad habits than good habits.
6. If just one player does not commit themselves 100% all the time, their teammates
will sense it and let down the same way.
7. Every player consciously or otherwise chooses a role model. Some choose good
models, others choose bad ones. The player will make their choice by
themselves. The coach can only influence and hope.
8. Regardless of how much time or effort a player puts in, nobody wants to win as
badly as the coach.
9. The player who lives for “next year” rather than doing it “this year” will never
realize their potential.
10. The one common denominator of successful high school athletes is confidence.
The coach can build it up or tear it down.
11. Remember, every player is an individual.

 

22. Coaches, especially young ones, must understand the enormous challenge inherent in directing and supervising young people, of dealing with their multifaceted personalities. And the first step in the training process is to get to know the players personally. Remember, a salesman cannot sell anything unless they know the product inside out- or outside in. Neither can a coach show up with just a whistle and expect to coach effectively. A coach must develop perspective, perceptiveness, sensitivity, and an understanding of athletes.  Once they do this, they will be able to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding, and
cope fully with their players problems.  – Author Unknown

23. Athletes may not remember what coaches tell them about the technical aspects of their sport, but they will never forget the coach.