He describes three rooms in the learning zone:
- The Reading Zone
- The Listening Zone
- The Giving Zone
I can't always achieve this, but I try to read a book every week. For my players, I ask them to read for at least thirty minutes a day. It never hurts to ask.
For those who struggle to find reading time, consider using the Internet to find "executive book summaries." You can often abstract the key points using these tools.
Many leaders can't find the Listening Zone because of arrogance, ego, or insensitivity. We need to focus on becoming servant leaders. This article summarizes servant leadership and the controversies surrounding it. Service, community, and collaboration are at its core.
Teaching and responsibility for the material taught belong to the giving zone.
Cottrell emphasizes the importance of goal setting. The legendary Don Meyer wasn't big on goals. Like many coaches, he emphasized process, with the expectation that a growth mindset combined with teaching and effective repetitions would produce the best game play. When you produce the best game play, the results usually speak for themselves.