5 minute read
Leadership Timeout: Creating an Environment
By D.J. Allen and retired NCAA and NBA coach Lon Kruger
The following lesson is from Allen and Kruger’s book, The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business & Life. Allen will be a presenter at the Partners in Progress conference March 1 & 2 in Las Vegas.
Pre-Game
Too many times we allow the results from our performance to dictate the environment in which we operate. In reality, strong leaders emphasize the importance of the environment in which we operate to dictate the actual results produced.
People perform better in situations where they want to be. As coaches, we want to put our players in situations they want to be in to allow them to better maximize their potential. Thus, it all starts with practice.
Gametime
Our team’s success during a season is a direct result of our performance in workouts from the middle of September through March. While we may play close to 35 games in a season, we may actually practice as a team (including walkthroughs on game days) nearly 150 times during that same season.
As coaches, we are responsible for creating an atmosphere at practice that our players enjoy. Our players should look forward to coming to practice. It should be a place they want to be.
Creating this type of an environment at practice is crucial for several reasons. Primarily, it ensures an enhanced dedication from members of the team. Players will come early and stay late if they are in an environment they enjoy. This additional time allows for us not only to improve as a team, but for our players to improve individually. It also helps to avoid the potential distractions of players having to be disciplined for being late or even missing a practice.
A lively and upbeat practice environment also leads to a better environment for learning and teaching. After all, this is what practice is about. When players are more upbeat they are more receptive to learning. We focus on positive reinforcement throughout most of our practices; however, we do offer feedback for improvement when necessary. Our expectations are consistent and very high so, obviously, there is need to offer this analysis.
A key element to creating this desired environment is to set high expectations for each practice session and, as important, be consistent with those expectations. We expect a lot from our players on a daily basis during our practices, and it is unfair to all of us if those expectations vary. Players need to know what to expect each and every day from our coaching staff.
Finally, it is imperative we are being as efficient with our players’ time as possible. The No. 1 way to damage an environment is to have someone believe your actions are a waste of his or her time.
We have an efficient plan for each and every practice. We limit “the standing around” to a minimum, something we know our players appreciate, and also stay away from the long, drawn-out speeches. Our practices are action-oriented for our players, and this helps to protect the lively, upbeat mood we are seeking and enhances our conditioning.
Our practices are demanding. However, we never lose sight that our players must look forward to coming to these practices every day. They are basketball players, and they must continue to enjoy playing the game they love.
And the more they enjoy it, the more dedicated and the more receptive to learning they will be.
Post-Game
Your overall focus as a leader is to impact results. Thus, your immediate focus should be to create and maintain a positive working environment for your team.
A business can only maximize its potential if all of its team members are performing at optimum levels. This occurs when the daily environment for all of the team members is a positive one.
Leaders cannot control every detail inside their respective organizations, nor should they try. However, what we do have control over is the environment in which our team members work on a daily basis.
Simple question: Do your team members look forward to coming to your organization? Chances are, if the answer is no then they are not performing at their maximum potential, and neither is your team.
There are four elements to keep in mind when developing a positive environment:
1. Be upbeat — People want to be around people that make them feel good. They are also more receptive to learning in a lively, upbeat environment.
2. Be consistent — People want to know what is expected of them every day. Set high expectations — that is fine as long as you are consistent with them.
3. Be a communicator — Provide constant feedback working to achieve 80% positive reinforcement with 20% feedback for improvement. Inform your team of goals and how to best accomplish them.
4. Be efficient — Don’t be perceived as someone who does not value the time of your team members. Get in and get out.
You will find success in your results if you spend time creating the proper environment. ▪
D.J. Allen is a performance & communication coach, speaker, and author. He is the founder of Xs & Os of Success—a leadership, organizational and professional development company that uses the platform of sports and its teachings to help individuals and teams maximize their potential in business and life.
