Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday (harsh language)
Motivational speeches work...when you have really good players. The best coaches extract the most from their teams. They said of Bear Bryant, "he can take his'n and beat your'n and your'n and beat his'n."
Bryant literally towered over Alabama football.
Success elements work in the classroom, on the court, and in the business world. Knowledge without clarity falls short. Dre Baldwin says be competent and confident yet humble enough to be a student every day.
Sylvia Hatchell addressed her UNC TarHeels after a bad half. "Put your hand over your heart. Does anybody feel a pulse?" The Heels rallied to win in the second half.
Leadership expert Jim Afremow says, "But that’s the thing about motivation, the most elite performers, whether they are on the court on in an office, don’t really rely on motivation to perform their best. There’s no need to motivate the motivated."
We're expected to fire up our teams. Be original or steal greatness.
Shamelessly use what moves you. I did recently and got applause from the girls, who obviously enjoyed Aaron Sorkin's writing.
What moves us? Authenticity. Be yourself. Simplicity. Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Be truthful. Kids see reality. Be direct and use clear language. "We're a team. We win together; we lose together. We cry together, we laugh together. And our tears soften our losses and our laughter makes victory even sweeter."
"Pain heals; chicks dig scars; glory lasts forever."
Years ago, I reminded a team, "how you play is how you live." Six months later a player approached me, "that stuff about how you play being your life really got to me." We never know what they hear.
Summary:
- Motivational speeches work...when you have really good players.
- Be humble as a student every day.
- Shamelessly use what moves you.
- Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
- Be truthful. Be direct. Be clear.
- Use rhetorical tools.
- We never know what players hear.
Lagniappe: A longer look at rhetoric, the Art of Language
Lagniappe 2: From the Playbook
Spurs' box stagger.
Lagniappe 3:
Examine the facts not just conventional wisdom. The Rockets are 7-3 without a center, averaging 117.5 points/100 possessions (3rd in the NBA), four more points per game. They aren't allowing more points.
