"When we
make goal setting an ongoing feature of our self-coaching means, we continually construct opportunities for powerful, self-affirming emotional
experiences." - Brett Steenbarger, Daily Trading Coach
Constructive goals within the context of great process pose no contradiction. We know that breaking big tasks into smaller ones helps us overcome pressure and complete big jobs.
Constructive goals within the context of great process pose no contradiction. We know that breaking big tasks into smaller ones helps us overcome pressure and complete big jobs.
But we can't let goals hold us hostage. When we create goals, we use the SMART acronym.
For example, we could establish a goal of not allowing any points in transition. Although specific and measurable, that's not realistic and likely unattainable. Coach Starkey at HoopThoughts shares Don Meyer's approach for team evaluation. My coach (Sonny Lane) believed that teams that dominated in rebounding and assists would succeed. That's the origin of my saying "possessions and possession." Control the ball and do something useful with it.
The New England Patriots break the season into quarters, looking for success within each quarter season. When I played high school basketball, my coach wanted us to win each quarter. When you have consistent success in the smaller tasks, then the overall job gets finished well.
In the Panglossian world, teams and players battle to succeed each possession. The best teams and players play in the moment. A succession of great possessions is a winning approach.
I've coached enough to be on the short end by big margins at halftime. Sometimes we have to restructure our goals within the game. We might say, "let's regroup and win this half." But in each case, we break the task into smaller parts.
Coaches can seek input from players as to what they consider reasonable goals. For example, we could say, "let's never allow more than ten points in any quarter." Or we might set a goal of allowing no more than three transition baskets per game. Getting 75 percent of defensive rebounds is another metric that yields results. I like the concept of 372. Get three consecutive stops at least seven times a half in each half. 372. If we get at least 42 stops, we're in great shape.
Find ways to define your standards and work to enhance your performance.
