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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Transferrable Specifics from "Extreme Ownership" Plus a Pair of Extras

Jocko Willink's Extreme Ownership presents timeless leadership lessons. Let's steal from them and apply to our basketball programs. 

StoryShot #1: Leaders Have the Greatest Impact on a Team’s Performance

A team without a leader is not a team. Recall the old saying, "an army of asses led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by an ass." Bill Belichick says, "no team can overcome bad coaching." 

StoryShot #2: Actions Must Be Underpinned By Beliefs

What's our Why? We need motivation with reasons to compete and to execute. Teams need collective and collaborative beliefs. Erik Spoelstra's message to the Heat, "Be the toughest, nastiest, best-conditioned, most professional, least-liked team". I've told the girls many times, "Don't play for me. Play for the girls next to you." 

StoryShot #3: Take Ownership of Your Team’s Mistakes

Be accountable. When people insist they are infallible their followers cannot trust them. Outcomes depend on both skill and luck; luck is a cruel mistress. Do not traffic in excuses

StoryShot #4: Don’t Let Your Ego Influence You

"Ego is the enemy." Ego leads us to overestimate our capability and make less informed judgments. Overconfidence led General George Custer into a slaughter at Little Big Horn. A controlled ego helped General William Tecumseh Sherman march to the sea.

StoryShot #5: Identify Your High Priority Tasks

Be good at what we do a lot. No easy hoops - stop transition, compete in the half court defense (contain the ball, no middle), and excel at pick-and-roll defense. Get and keep everyone on the same page. 

StoryShot #6: Support Every Team Member

Value everyone on the team and be a good teammate. We never know when a fully engaged teammate who works hard at practice will step up in the moment. 

StoryShot #7: Simplify Concepts to Avoid Mistakes

Strive for simplicity and clarity. Offensively, our tenets follow from spacing, cutting, screening and passing. Defensively, everyone's goal is no easy baskets with at most one bad shot. 

StoryShot #8: Provide Orders That Even Your Weakest Member Can Follow

The only 'bad' question is the one not asked. Give players safe spaces in a supportive culture. 

StoryShot #9: Be Clear and Delegate

Provide an end state (vision) that team members understand and present "intermediate stages" that everyone can work toward. My coach preached "win this quarter" and I believe in "win this possession." What is our plan to wear down our opponent and to play longer and harder than they do?

StoryShot #10: Debrief After Every Plan

Our "After Action Review" examines successes, failures, and how we can improve going forward. We can make corrections using the "sandwich technique" of stating the correction between statements of praise and support. 

StoryShot #11: The Essential Features of an Effective Plan

What's our process? Every action during every practice should advance the team narrative. Writers use the phrase, "Kill your darlings" about eliminating the fluff. 

StoryShot #12: Leading Up

Erik Spoelstra says, "every team has a pecking order." The "chain of command" needs respect and trust. When factions and agendas exist, teams fall apart. 

StoryShot #13: Leading Down

When times are tough, the team leader has to look in the mirror first. What more can I do? Communicate positively, clearly, and energetically. 

StoryShot #14: Break Teams Down Into Smaller Teams

Most coaches work with position groups. That includes traditional grouping like guards and forwards, but situational groupings like pressure groups, comeback teams, and sometimes delay groups. 

StoryShot #15: Do Not Let Fear Influence Your Decision-Making

In Frank Herbert's Dune, Paul Muad'dib steadies himself saying, "Fear is the mind-killer." 


Learn to play to win; avoid playing not to lose. 

Think back to excellent coaches from our past. What made them special? Were they more knowledgeable and task-oriented or was it their energy, communication, positivity, and trust on top of technical competence? 

Lagniappe. All closeouts are not created equal. 


Lagniappe 2. France SLOB via FastModel... zipper, reverse, sandwich screen