July 2023

Jul 03, 2023

The biggest challenge and area of growth facing leaders who require excellence in 2023???  

I believe it’s the ability of the leader to change their approach, tone, and their posture when confronting behaviors and habits that aren’t good enough without lowering or changing the STANDARD. 

"You can hold them accountable without shaming them.
You can challenge them without shutting them down.
You can correct them without embarrassing them.
Call people up, not out."

-       Kevin DeShazo 

APPROACH – A way of dealing with something. 

When it comes to working with young players, with young people your approach can really be the difference maker, or it can really be the deal breaker. When it comes down to approach with challenging players to raise their level, without losing them in the process. I see two absolute musts compassion and patience. 

We must be willing to show compassion, which is simply an understanding that the player you’re challenging to grow and be better likely has more going on than just basketball. The patience comes into play with allowing the compounding growth over time to do what it does. 

In the past few months working with the 24-year-old Anfernee Simons has challenged me to continue to shift my approach. By leading with compassion, the days that just aren’t quite clicking, that used to seem like a waste, with this compassion and patience we still have found a way to get better on those days. And maybe more importantly, those days are becoming more and more rare! By maintaining a base-level standard that both sides clearly understand and meet on a daily basis, you create an environment primed for growth. Without matching that standard with ourselves as leaders in our compassion and patience we will always struggle to generate the level of results we all seek. 

“When you find a wise critic who will blow out your faults. Follow him like a map to hidden treasure.” 

-       Phil Knight  

So, the next time you find yourself frustrated and worked up in the middle of a workout or practice, just remember, find it within yourself to show compassion and have patience. I think the results will speak for themselves! 

See you all next month.