Pollinators are sharers. Early in our careers, most of us experience an apprenticeship, which might have a lowly title like internship, associate, or trainee. We have the opportunity to grow our knowledge and experience, but usually have some menial tasks...the 'scut' or grunt work. Our supervisors ideally share tactics and techniques but also receive the credit.
During internship in medicine, the interns present 'cases' at "Morning Report" with the Junior resident the immediate supervisor, but the Senior refining the narratives. I would inform the intern that "your job is to make the Junior look good." In other words, the young trainee 'cleared the path'. In Ego is the Enemy, Ryan Holiday calls it the "canvas strategy", finding a canvas for the artist to paint. The better the work of the 'Indians' becomes, the better the reputation and recognition of the 'Chiefs'. That extends to the department level, the hospital level, and the 'organizational' level.
Benjamin Franklin rejected the family business (candlemaking) for the longer, more arduous apprentice ship in printing. Why? He wanted to become a writer and have the opportunity to entertain and educate. He became a pollinator (more than rhetorically and in multiple ways).
And basketball? Coaches have a myriad of tasks:
Communications excellence lies at the root of each of the above. Our connection determines our pollination. Each player and team become 'fruit' and the bigger picture defines our 'coaching tree'. Clarity and simplicity pollinate better than pontification.
As we head into the season, we need priorities and points of emphasis. I'm working on streamlining sets and their options and how to teach and implement zone offense and zone quick hitters. But it's not about building a statue, it's about helping players to see and anticipate opportunities and threats real time. The better we pollinate, the better our fruits will be.
