Monday, November 30, 2009

Wooden on Leadership


Over the Thanksgiving holiday I had a chance to do some reading. At the start of the season, I always like to pick up and read something from John Wooden, his coaching methods and beliefs always helps put coaching into perspective. I read some chapters from the book "Wooden on Leadership", here are some of the things that I picked up as I was reading...


Wood On...Character

Character Starts with Doing the Little Things:


1. Choosing the Right Attitude & Conduct


  • Do nothing that will harm or will negatively impact you, your family, your friends, your school or your team.

2. Having Respect



  • Respect yourself - have personal pride

  • Respect others...opponents, coaches and officials

  • Respect the game

3. Being a Good Student



  • Be a good student in the classroom

  • Be a student of the game

  • Be a good citizen in the community

4. Fighting Spirit & Conditioning



  • Have more energy than your opponent

  • Be better conditioned - mentally & physically

  • Respect your opponent, but believe that you are better in talent, knowledge, condition and fighting spirit

"It's the Little Things that Make the Big Things Happen"



  • Think small. Work Hard. Get Better (good).

  • High performance & production are achieved only through the identification and perfection of small details...little things done well!

  • If you collect enought pennies, eventually you'll be rich. Each relevant & perfected detail was another penny in our bank...When you focus on doing the little things and work hard to make those a habit, you will get better. When those little things are done well on a consistent basis, you can consider it to be perfected!

"The difference in a championship team and a good team is often the perfection of minor details" - John Wooden


Wooden On: Coach and Player Relationships


"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." - John Wooden


If you don't think your team as a family, why should the team think of you as head of the family. You must have love and respect for those you lead.


1. Be close, but keep their respect. Have a vested interest in them as a person and be easy to approach


2. Maintain discipline without being a dictator. Be fair and lead, don't drive.


3. Study & respect the individuality of each player, handle them accordingly. Follow the "Golden Rule"...and treat them as you would expect to be treated.


4. Try to develop the same sense of responsibility in all...no matter what their talent level, playing time may be.


5. Analyze yourself & your players to be coached accordingly; "The Man in the Glass" poem


6. Approval is a great motivator. Use positive reinforcement after severe criticism.


7. Teach loyalty, honesty and respect inorder to build proper team spirit.


8. The team always comes first, but don't sacrifice a player just to prove a point


Wooden On...Coaching Methods


"You must first be what you want your team to become" - John Wooden


1. Be a teacher. Use the laws of learning: explanation > demonstration > imitation > feedback > repetition until it becomes a habit


2. Use lectures, photos, videos or diagrams to supplement practices


3. Insist on undivided attention


4. Insist on punctuality and proper dress for practice


5. Practice is preparation


6. Show patience, poise and faith


7. Give new things early in practice period, then repeat daily until learned.


8. Avoid public criticism


9. Encourage teamwork and unselfishness


10. Individual development helps the team development


11. In practice, use small, carefully organized groups


12. Have a practice plan...and follow it.


Action speaks louder than words...


No written word nor spoken plea,


Can teach your team what they should be,


Nor all the books on the shelves,


It's what the leaders are themselves.


Wooden On...Leading


1. Control Emotion Or It Will Control You



  • Uncontrolled emotion decreases a leaders stature, lessens respect and undermines a teams effort

  • Intensity, when correctly applied, can produce improvement and positive results

2. Avoid Excess. Shoot for Moderation



  • Moderation & balance are linked to long term success

  • Excess can create ineffective and/or undisciplined performance

3. Install Emotional Discipline


4. The Star of the Team is the Team



  • Your team first message must be delivered consistently and persistently

5. Insist Team Members "Share the Ball"



  • Team members and coaches must communicate openly and consistently with each other and share information, ideas and feedback...have a 'best practice' mindset

6. Go Out of Your Way to Praise Quiet Team Members



  • Praise those team members who make things happen, but don't always get noticed. Praise those who are behind the scenes working hard (i.e. assistants, janitors, statisticians, volunteers, students, parents...)

7. Desire Players Who Make Good Teammates



  • You want players who will make good teammates, not good players.

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