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Saturday, July 4, 2020

Basketball: Become the Coach on the Floor

Cultivate players who are coaches on the floor? Who is she? 

She demonstrates unequaled work ethic. No plays off, mentally or physically. "The magic is in the work.

She models excellence, unselfishness, and communication. She inspires and encourages teammates to play in the moment, fully engaged. She knows the value of "win this possession." It's a tough job because teammates have to follow her leading without being controlling. Lead without being bossy. 

She sacrifices by getting everyone involved. Sometimes that means passing instead of shooting, setting screens, taking a charge. It always means 'first to the floor.' She is authentic as she makes teammates feel valued

She knows the game and sees through coach's eyes



She brings energy and energizes teammates. She makes a difference every time she is on the court. She does the big things because she executes the little things. 

She shares toughness. She rises up when the moment comes.

She shares credit. She is a giver in a world of Give and TakeIn his Wharton class, Adam Grant challenged students to form RECIPROCITY RINGS, to help others achieve one desire, for themselves or others. Reciprocity rings force communication and actions to benefit others. Some students said that wouldn't happen because Wharton students are all takers. 

But a funny thing happened; students collaborated, helping each other. Public exposure encourages takers to give. “Being altruistic is often seen as ‘good’ and being greedy or selfish is not,” according to Duke behavioral economist Dan Ariely.

Give leaders tools to help them. Look backward to move forward with advice from Doris Kearns Goodwin's Leadership in Turbulent Times



She is accountable via Extreme Ownership. "As a supervisor, it is my job to check he has understood what is expected." Willink and Babin share core values:

1. Extreme Ownership
2. There is no such thing as a bad team, just bad leaders
3. Believing is the first step
4. Beware of your ego
5. Cover and move (Coordinate)
6. Keep things simple
7. Setting up priorities and acting on them
8. Decentralising command
9. Plan
10. Leading downwards and upwards
11. Indecision and uncertainty
12. Discipline brings freedom

Every team needs coaching and leadership. The best teams have a coach on the floor. 
Lagniappe: Recognize original thinkers. 16 million people viewed this Adam Grant TED talk with ideas from Leonardo da Vinci to Martin Luther King. 
"You call it procrastinating; I call it thinking." - Adam Sorkin


Google wasn't first. They were best. Have idea doubt without self-doubt. If we take initiative and challenge ourselves to do better, we do! Bad ideas are the mother of great ideas. Grand says, "You need a lot of bad ideas to have a few good ones."