The big news from the athletic world this week came from the NFL. We had one player – Martin – accuse another player – Incognito – of bullying him. Because of the bullying, Martin left the Miami Dolphins team. Since the initial accusation, more information has surfaced, so we don’t know what really happened. Only…
The fundamentals are the keys to athletics. Balance, footwork, passing, dribbling, and shooting are the fundamentals taught in the play of basketball. It makes no difference what offense you run – motion, dribble drive, read and react, or set plays. It makes no difference what defense you run – man-to-man, zone, or match-up. If your…
“Birds sing after a storm…” (Rose Kennedy) If anyone had storms in his or her life, it was Rose Kennedy. The above was the quote that she used to get through all the tragedies that happened to her children. This was a quote a priest used in his homily one Sunday at Mass. He had…
“Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” Whenever leaders are asked to speak on behalf of the organization they lead, it is of paramount importance that they take quality time to prepare. Many leaders do not take the time to properly prepare and too often speak off-the-cuff. Every time a leader speaks, he or she has the…
Leaders may gain a valuable insight from athletic coaches. Most people have some background at some level in sport. Because they often have this past, they can be very vocal as they see your teams play. And their opinions often reference just how dumb a coach you are! If you coach, it is a given…
Wes Welker had an interesting interview on ESPN. Welker, one of the NFL’s top wide receivers in recent years, has been in the spotlight a bit lately because of the terrific start by his new team, the Denver Broncos. During the interview I saw, he had three insights into leadership – one on his career…
A recent blog article in the Harvard Business Review got my attention. It was entitled, “Nice or Tough: Which Approach Engages Employees the Most?” More than 160,000 employees were surveyed to ascertain whether leaders who were “drivers” or “enhancers” were the most effective. Their conclusion was something most athletic coaches do on a regular basis.…
A story that circulated in Chicago during the Bulls Jordan era was very insightful for leaders. Tex Winter, a Bulls assistant coach, reminded Michael Jordan that there is no “I” in “TEAM.” Jordan’s retort was that there is an “I” in “WIN!” The irony of that exchange is that they both are right. The best…
Mark Twain once wrote, “I didn’t attend the funeral but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” It does not have to be that way for a leader at the end. I believe great leaders do the same four things that great teachers and coaches do: They know their subject matter, be…
Listening is respect. When I take the time to listen to you—-really listen—-I am showing you that I respect your insights and that I respect you as a person. People want to be respected, and this is especially true for the people who report to you. They truly appreciate your willingness, as the leader, to…
