Ok, so this is one of my favorite, as well as one of the most challenging chapters. I'm going to put the quote and the question together again this week...
"The hallmark of successful leadership is consistently maximum performance. Emotionalism opens a leader to inconsistency. Seek intensity coupled with emotional discipline." (p. 109) Coach Wooden later goes on to say, "I insisted on that same control and intensity during practice - especially practice." (p. 113)
As leaders those around you will look to and follow your example. Whether your path is smooth or littered with seemingly insurmountable obstacles strive to maintain a consistent and controlled intensity and perform at the highest level you are capable of.
Question...We all have been on or know of teams that have won games they should have lost and teams that have lost games they should have won... what would you say is the usually the cause of this let down and how can it be avoided?
Strive for excellence... Always
Chris
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I think losing games that should be won is usually the product of conforming to an ok job. It's like what Michael Jordan said: "I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win." Instead of taking every game as a chance to work at 100% stregth and effort, some games end up viewed as "just another game," and some practices are "just another practice," so the enthusiasm and effort drops dramatically. The importance of practice is not stressed enough. Once again, Michael Jordan says, "I'm not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat." If every game was about pushing ourselves to our limit, these games would not be lost. Even further, if every game was about pushing ourselves to our limit, and then even more, we would be unstoppable.
ReplyDeleteI liked when Coach Wooden said, "My performance goal for our team was one of steady and tangible progress. If you drew it on a graph, the line would be rising every day each week through the season. There would be no sharp spikes or peaks; no sudden drop-offs or letdowns. To achieve this goal requires control of emotions. It stars with the leader."