All of us want to achieve something. But individually and collectively, to achieve we need to define goals, a process to achieve them, intermediate goals en route, and metrics to assess progress.
Upon reflection, how many of us have clarity on that process? E.M. Goldratt writes in "The Goal", "I have come to the conclusion that productivity is the act of bringing a company closer to its goal. Every action that brings a company closer to its goal is productive. Every action that does not bring a company closer to its goal is not productive."
As we examine our programs, we can ask which actions are bringing us closer (to our goals) and which are not? Have I/we embarked upon a lifetime journey of learning and growth or something less? Are players energized and working on their knowledge and skills or are they working on soccer and softball?
Goldratt continues, "I would want to see increases in net profit and return on
investment and cash flow—all three of them. And I would want to
see all three of them increase all the time." How does that translate to your program?
I'll argue that net profit isn't "wins and losses" but program-wide cultivating excellence. Return on investment might represent playing quality basketball. And cash flow ultimately is the value added for the people associated with the program. When we have great process, truly inspired process, then growing excellence adds value and resulting quality play.
Each of us helps define OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH. That can be directly basketball-related (reading, film study, athletic training, off-season workouts) or indirectly (e.g. community building-e.g. community service).
We need DELIBERATE PRACTICE. John Wooden remarked, "never confuse activity with achievement." Attendance only partially solves problems. The quality of every repetition bears on the value added. Practicing a skill wrong only reinforces poor technique. For instance, driving right to left with your right hand exposes the ball, likely leading to a turnover. We cannot accept that in practice.
Are we LASER FOCUSED. What is our ONE GOAL, the French 'raison d'etre'? We can emphasize it with different words, "The main thing is the main thing", "One band, one sound", "do your job", "accomplish the mission", or the Japanese "Kaizen".
Basketball is about people.Jackie Robinson noted, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." David Cottrell preaches it another way, "people don't quit jobs; they quit people." How do we treat our people?
The one person disallowed from lack of energy, commitment, and focus is the program director. We set the tone, lead and inspire the troops. If we establish a priority on personal and collective improvement, exponential growth is possible. Impossible becomes "I'm possible." Impossible is nothing becomes "I'm possible in everything." Who are we inspiring today?
