Leading Narratives

It’s not unusual for All-America High School Athletes to be spoiled by their early success. They are often told how good they are, and in many instances are given preferential treatment. It’s hard for them to believe they have things to learn, but the fact is that when new recruits start out, their knowledge is often limited. They often have great ability and even some knowledge but they often lack wisdom. They usually are deficient in so many areas—especially the mental approach to the game. There’s a large gap between where they are and where they need to be but they can’t see it. The leader must find a way to get these young players to see this gap, make them understand it and believe it exists, before they can break through their know-it-all habits.  We always keep in mind these two important characteristics regarding behavior: People won’t change their behavior until they change their beliefs and, They’ll change their beliefs only when they see for themselves that th...

Want to ensure all of your team members are improving? Make sure you allow for these four important factors: Daily learning. Stimulate team members to do what it takes to improve. Elbow room. As they improve in competence, let them gradually take on more responsibility. Support. Show your players that all the team’s work is valuable, even if it’s not glamorous or doesn’t get public attention. Meaning. When things get tough, give consistent reminders of what the work will lead to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Season In Words by Dan Spainhour $19.95

You know you are a team player when: You realize fulfilling your role, whatever that role is, is most important. You have a desire to excel for the benefit of those relying on you. You have an unquenchable need to exceed your past limitations. You play and know, without a doubt, that you competed like a champion. You understand your commitment to your teammates. You finish playing and only your body leaves the floor—your heart and soul are captured within the game. You will exchange your blood, sweat, and tears for the benefit of the team. You understand the irrelevance of individual awards. You would rather encourage a teammate to success than benefit personally from his mistakes. Your respect for the game outweighs your personal pride. You make mistakes and use them to improve instead of using them as excuses. Your ability to make your teammates better increases each time you play. You do the little things right when nobody is watching. You serve your teammates wit...

The most effective communicators have been great storytellers, from Aesop to Jesus to Abraham Lincoln to Mark Twain to Garrison Keillor to Ronald Reagan. Why? Everyone loves a story. Stories are like windows to the truth. Leading through storytelling requires more than just spinning yarns; the stories must make important, relevant points. Through parables, Jesus imparted many of his most vital messages. Leaders need to appreciate this impact and prepare their own repertoire of parables that relate to their own particular enterprise. Jesus both established and perfected the use of parables as a leadership methodology. Just think of the heroes he created who continue to inspire us—the good Samaritan, the good and faithful servant, the wise virgins, the poor widow, and others. As a leader, you need to teach through relevant stories that create heroes, build legends, and help establish the kind of culture that inspires your followers to excellence. Too many tell stories in which...

Bob Ladouceur began coaching the De La Salle High Spartans in Concord, California in 1979. He took over a team that had never experienced a winning season since the school's founding in 1965 and turned it into a perennial winner. From 1992 to 2003, he guided the team to 12-consecutive undefeated seasons, setting a national winning streak record for high school football of 151 consecutive wins. Team building according to Ladouceur consists of the following: Start with the process. In 1979, Ladouceur sized up his few small, dispirited players, who hadn't had a winning season in the school's history. “My approach was all about process,” he says. “I didn't have any long-term goals. I just said to myself, Let's teach these guys how to win and what it takes to win, and then make it a day-to-day process.” Create small victories . “I tell each player that all I ask is that by the time each practice ends, for you to be better than you were two or three hours ago. W...