Whether it’s a high school program or a professional franchise, success requires transformation. Here are ideas.
Establish brand value. When I think of branding, I associate Sara Blakely, CEO of Spanx and philanthropist. She developed a brand from nothing and transformed it into a five BILLION dollar empire. Her MasterClass shared a vast wealth of experience.
- Make it (your product)
- Sell it
- Build brand awareness.
Obsess the product is another Blakely theme. You can't have a product that's 'too good' or can't be improved. A basketball program gets measured on many metrics - winning, character, community engagement, popularity (is participation rising or falling).
Take care of the customer The coach has a lot of customers. Players and their families, assistants, the AD and principal, and the fan base are all stakeholders.
"Every day is player development day." Coaches all recruit, mostly from within their own community. Does that twelve year-old and their family want them to be wearing the home town colors? If they don't you have problems. Add value through better player development.
Energize and inspire. Get players to buy-in to the culture of the program. First, you need one.
Teach the game. "Competence is the antidote to fear" says astronaut Chris Hadfield. Expand everyones' "circle of competence."
Sell your philosophy. Mine is teamwork, improvement, and accountability. Be a "learn-it-all, not a know-it-all." Steve Kerr emphasizes mindset, mentors, and culture.
Empower the players to lead. Look to the past for a vision of the future. Yet, live in the present.
Build resilience. "Toughness is a skill." Read together as a team, such as Jay Bilas' Toughness. "Hard work is a skill." Don't let anyone outwork you. "Character is a skill." Your choices define you.
Do the unrequired work. James Kerr writes of the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team in Legacy, "Champions do extra."
Lagniappe. Be a resource for others. Coach Hacks is.
My favorite end of game SLOB specials for between 5-10 seconds left
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO) March 9, 2023
One for needing a 2, and another for needing a 3 pic.twitter.com/ndrmPn4HbM
