Leadership

Fall In Love With The Process

“But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:31

In Perry Noble's new book, The Most Excellent Way to Lead, he discusses leadership through the lens of 1 Corinthians 13 and challenges us to fall in love with the process.  He was recently interviewed by Ken Coleman on the EntreLeadership podcast and talked about this topic more in depth.  I would highly recommend you to listen to it to gain further insight on this topic!

One of the things Perry challenges us to do is read 1 Corinthians 13 while replacing the word "love" with the word "leadership," as this is the most excellent way to lead.  For example, instead of reading the words "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast," he challenges us to read it as "Leadership is patient and kind; leadership does not envy or boast." 

“How you treat people is ultimately going to determine your leadership legacy.”
— Perry Noble

As basketball coaches, it is very easy for us to become impatient.  In fact, every quality that Paul says that love/leadership is in 1 Corinthians 13, is very hard for us to live up to.  The expectations we hold ourselves and our players to is extremely high.  We want to become the best that we can possibly be and we desire the same for our players.  Typically, when expectations aren't met or take longer than they should, we become frustrated.  

“You can’t hold people accountable for unspoken, unrealistic expectations.”
— Perry Noble

When I heard that I just shook my head.  I can't even count how many times that I've tried to hold our players accountable to something that I didn't clearly communicate or something that was simply unrealistic.  Instead of falling in love with the process, I was caught up in the "what's next" mindset.  If I want to be the kind of leader that God has called me to be I need to grow in this area.

VALUE THE PROCESS

Instead of always looking at the end results or what's next in our lives, we need to fall in love with the process.  The next game, the next season, the next job....whatever it is we just need to stop.  We need to stop and understand that the present moment is the one that God intended us to be in and we can learn something now. 

“If you’re in the middle of a process and you’re not getting the results you want, and every leader knows that tension, stop and literally ask, “what am I supposed to be learning right now?” Because it’s those lessons in the middle of the process that you will never forget.”
— Perry Noble

STAY FOCUSED ON THE PROCESS.  VALUE IT.  LOVE IT.  EMBRACE IT.

When the tension gets to be too much as a leader, always remember that you have been called by God to be in the position your in at this point of your life.  Encourage your players to be the best they can be while giving them clarity and understanding in realistic expectations.  Attempt to see the world through their eyes and make an effort to know them better.  It's all a part of the process.  It's all a part of the journey that will ultimately give you purpose as a leader.  Keep this quote close to you,

“Leadership is not about me. It’s about God using me to do something greater than I could have ever imagined.”
— Perry Noble

Choose Wisely

“A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.”
— John Maxwell

THE LAW OF THE INNER CIRCLE

That's what John Maxwell calls it.  I just call it choosing the right friends.  

The people you surround yourself with as a leader are crucial in your development and ultimately, your impact.  You have the power to choose who you allow into your life.  Are you going to choose the person that will challenge you, hold you accountable, and have your back?  Or will you choose the person that will always think you're right, hold you back, and turn on you when things get tough?  The decision you make will make or break you!  And remember, you need to be the kind of friend to others that makes both of you better.  

Here are a few quotes on leadership when it comes to choosing your inner circle:

“Those on your team carry two buckets with them at all times. One has water and the other has gasoline. Whenever there is a ‘fire’ down below, they will either pour the water on it, and you’ll never have to worry about it. Or, they will pour the gasoline on it, and it will blow up in your face.”
— John Maxwell
“You have to be a little more intentional with who you are spending time with because you only have so much time to spend with other people.”
— Adam Bradley
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
— James Allen
“You need to surround yourself with people who believe in your potential and foster growth in your life! You will adopt the mindset, the outlook and the beliefs of the five people you are closest to.”
— Joshua Medcalf

Here is a podcast that dives a little more in depth to determining who is in your inner circle:

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Homeless Never Means Helpless

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"GO GET A JOB!"

"THEY'RE SO LAZY!"

"STAY AWAY FROM THEM, THEY'RE DANGEROUS!"

Throughout my life I've heard these stereotypes applied to people less fortunate over and over again. Much of society has a view on the homeless population as people that have no work ethic, aren't responsible, and don't try hard enough. I'll be honest, I even had this type of mindset when I was younger. Growing up you're taught that working hard and doing what you're "supposed" to do will give you what you need, but I'll tell you right now LIFE does not always work that way! This last week I had the opportunity of serving with an outreach organization called New York School of Urban Ministry where I went into the streets of Midtown Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens to bring food, blankets, and Jesus to the homeless or less fortunate. But as I came to this organization with a mindset of blessing others, I was the one who was truly blessed.

The stigma that has been attached to the homeless that they aren't hard working or talented is completely false. My first night in Manhattan we went to a location where the homeless were able to stay until a certain time for shelter due to the cold weather. I met an elderly woman by the name of Erlma. She was walking down the stairs holding every type of bag you could think of while also holding a cup of coffee. I saw she was struggling, so I helped her carry the bags so she could get down safely. As we began to talk more, I noticed she was limping which she then told me she had a knee problem for the last five years. I went on to pray for her and her knee which brought us to her story. Erlma went on to tell me that she was a graduate at the prestigious Columbia University in New York where she attained two degrees and was once a college professor. As I kept on speaking with her I forgot all about the fact that she was homeless, but was viewing her as a human being with worth. I'll never forget what she said to me before I left. She said,  

“The people you invest into do not always give you a return on your investment, but that’s not why we invest into others. We invest into others because we have a duty to love people and give them a chance to understand their potential.”
— Erlma

I immediately gave her a hug because of how much those words meant to me.

Another woman I met named Paticia had her son with her that night. When I sat down next to Paticia she immediately began talking to me about the importance of having confidence when approaching my career. Her son, Tyrell, was only nine years old and I could tell he looked up to his mom like she was a superhero. Since Paticia is a single mother she would have to drop off her son at school every day somehow. She went on to tell me that before he would leave he would ask her every day what she was going to do today. Her response every time was that she was going to go save the world. Paticia told me she didn't want her son to know that she wasn't able to have a job right now. Tyrell just needed to focus on one thing and that one thing was just being a kid. As we got to the end of our conversation I told Paticia I wish I could just hire her myself. She went on to give me some encouragement in regards to my future, 

“It’s hard. I’ll tell you right now that New York isn’t for everyone. But I see something in you. You have a gift with people and I don’t usually talk to people this much, so that should tell you something.”
— Paticia

I went on to pray with Paticia, but she also told me she wanted to pray for me. She went on to pray for me in a very powerful way and I was truly blessed.

I had even more numerous amazing interactions with people such as Robert who went out of his way in one of the shelters to teach me how the game of chess has many connections with life itself.  Or Jason, who was younger than most of the homeless, helped explain to me the best way to reach inner city youth. Jason gave me knowledgable approaches to the youth of places like Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Manhattan. I couldn't believe a man with soo much knowledge was in his current situation.

As I reflect on the time I spent with this organization I would say the main lesson I learned is that the opportunity to serve others is an absolute gift. New York City has a homeless population of about 100,000. These people do not have less worth than anyone else. If we are truly going to apply God's Word to this subject then the worth of people is found in Christ, not in how big someone's house is or the title they have at their job. From my time this past week I have learned more from people that are less fortunate than I have from many people who are considered "successful" in the eyes of the world. That should tell us something. "Success" in the eyes of the world can take you down a detrimental spiral that can get us off track of what is important. Never take for granted the blessings we have that look simple. Because one day, those same blessings could be gone in an instant.

BY LARRY TAYLOR

* I love seeing former players who have a passion for Jesus and serving others.  Larry is truly a special person and God is going to do big things through his life!  It was an honor to be able to share his story from his time in New York. - Coach Wingreen

Land The Plane Safely

“Coaching is like flying an airplane. There is going to be a lot of turbulence, but your job is to land the plane safely.”
— Chuck Daly

As the season nears its conclusion, I am reminded of one of my favorite "Dalyisms" that reminds us to finish well.  Like most programs, we have had our share of exhilarating highs and gut-wrenching lows this season.  No matter what circumstance you are facing at this moment in the season, it is important to find a way to finish the season with success.  Your job is to land the plane safely.  As written in a past article by current LSU assistant coach, Brendan Suhr, we know that championship caliber teams are able to perform this by giving concentrated focus on the task at hand.  Coach Suhr wrote,

"During the season, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but as a coach you have to understand you have to remain calm and poised and remember the goals that you have established for the team.  On the road to each championship season, we had major turmoil occur, but Chuck landed the plane safely."

Chuck Daly & Brendan Suhr

Chuck Daly & Brendan Suhr

NASA On Leadership

This week, our program at Bob Jones University had the privilege to have Daryl Woods speak to our team on leadership.  Some of you may be familiar with him if you read Jay Bilas' book, Toughness.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with him, Daryl is the Technical Assistant at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center.  He has a vast knowledge of strategic planning and project management in the world of engineering, and truly is a "rocket scientist."  In his book, Toughness, Jay Bilas shares the story about how he met Daryl and drops a great leadership quote on us that says,

“Responsible to the element, accountable to the mission.”
— Daryl Woods

RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELEMENT

During his talk with our team, Daryl explained to us how this mindset was an integral part to their success.  He told us that he was given the task to unite two separate teams together, one of which was plagued with low morale due to a recent project being cancelled.  Throughout this journey he shared how each member of this team was responsible for various elements, or parts of the space shuttle.  Each of these elements plays an important role in the overall performance of a successful flight.  Obviously, each responsible party was extremely dedicated to performing their specific role to a high level, but in the meantime other elements were struggling with various circumstances.  

ACCOUNTABLE TO THE MISSION

As circumstances came up, members of one element began to contribute to other elements that needed help, whether it was financially or with personnel.  As this team began to help one another, it became very clear that the mission was the most important thing on their minds.  They began to understand that each element was crucial in the overall success of the mission and while they were responsible for their element, it was more valuable to be accountable to the mission.  This culture brought life to its members and they flourished because of a mindset that prioritized the team over any individual.  

Here are a couple tweets from our discussion with Daryl:

THE TEAM

As we apply this leadership lesson to our basketball program, we see continual growth and love for each other.  When someone is having a rough day performing their role it is necessary that they find a way to stay responsible to their task, but it is also the duty of his teammates to pick him up and stay accountable to the team.  We can exercise this mindset in many aspects of our program, both on and off the court.  When this mindset is owned by every member we begin to see results that are truly remarkable.  No matter what is going on within your team, whether its in sports, business, or church, make sure that every member stays responsible to the element and accountable to the mission!  

A Lesson From Tubby

Texas Tech has stolen the headlines on ESPN recently after three incredible wins over top 25 teams in Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma.  It has been no surprise to see the best teams in college basketball get upset this season, but how many people expected Texas Tech to be making this much noise?  The Big XII is the deepest conference in the NCAA this year and the man leading the Red Raiders charge is none other than Tubby Smith.

Yes, this is the same Tubby Smith that won a national championship at Kentucky and the same Tubby Smith that was let go at Minnesota (Hey Minnesota - how is that working out for you?).  There is no question that Tubby is one of the greatest coaches that has ever lived, but what is it that truly makes him great?  Is it his ability to draw up great plays?  Is it his personality that lures the top talent in the country?  Or is it something else?  

TUBBY SMITH IS A SERVANT-LEADER

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to coach at Tubby's basketball camps for 5 of the 6 years while he was at Minnesota.  I saw several qualities that separated Tubby from other coaches, but there is one instance that says more about him than anything else.  This experience not only changed my perception of Tubby as a coach and person, but more importantly it changed who I wanted to become as a coach and person.

We finally arrived to the dining hall after a long walk across campus with dozens of campers.  Most of these kids were between the ages of 8 and 14 and had no regard for what was going on around them.  As I was standing in line waiting to get my food, one of the campers dropped his tray and unleashed a mess on the floor - right on cue.  Most of the other kids pointed and laughed while some of the coaches near the incident got flustered and upset.  It was a situation  that was going to require a lot of clean up and there was no one that seemed to want to help this poor kid - except for one man.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Out of nowhere, Tubby comes in and assures the kid that it's OK.  He drops to his hands and knees and begins to pick up the mess like it was no big deal.  After he made his first trip to the trash can to throw away some of the food, he comes back with more paper towels and continues to finish the task of cleaning up the mess.  In less than two minutes the problem was solved and everyone went on with their lunch.  

Although this may seem like a small thing, it made a HUGE impact on me as a college kid aspiring to be a coach.  Tubby Smith is a natural leader and he displayed it in a simple act of service; humbling himself and helping this kid in his time of need.  This is why Tubby is one of the greatest of all-time.

So, while many are surprised by Texas Tech's recent success, I am not.  The values and character that Tubby and his staff are implementing in that program will go far beyond the basketball court. The wins will be fun and look fantastic on their tournament resume, but the true victory will be from the leadership traits that Tubby is living out each day as he leads that program!

The Victory is His

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.”
— 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Dictionary.com defines "Victory" as, 

vic-to-ry [vik-tuh-ree, vik-tree]

  1. a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.
  2. an engagement ending in such triumph.
  3. the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest.

 

Although we often associate the term 'victory' with the sports arena, the true victory was won at the cross of Jesus Christ.  I constantly assess myself as a coach and ask the question, "why do you coach?"  Obviously, there is a passion and desire to win championships, develop the skills of my players, and to reach the highest level of success that is possible.  But if the wins, success, and reputation among my peers is the only place I'm finding victory, then I have truly lost.  When I break it down to the fundamentals, there are three reasons I coach and they are the only things that will make an impact for eternity.


1. Discipleship within a basketball program is key.  I want to disciple our players to the best of my ability to ensure that they are growing in their walks with Jesus and that they are winning off the court as well as on the court.  Our players should graduate knowing that I cared about them as more than just a basketball player.  I will only be successful in this if I am being discipled as well.  Finding mentors to help me grow and hold me accountable is a key in achieving success in these areas.  If no one is coaching the coaches, then we are in trouble. (Matthew 28:19)

2. Proclaiming the gospel to the nations is essential.  Throughout the season it is vital to not only be visible in the community, but also to have a presence around the world.  Our team was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico this season and use basketball to glorify God.  Obviously, trips across the ocean may not be a common occurrence, but we still need to make efforts to share the gospel with others.  If we aren't telling non-believers about Jesus, then we are failing in our call as coaches and as human beings. (Matthew 5:16)

3. Glorifying Jesus Christ in all we do is the umbrella over it all.  We were put here on this earth by a marvelous Creator and he deserves all the praise we have to offer.  We can praise him through our preparation, attitude, and actions.  God the Father sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sin, rise up from the grave, and give us victory.  He gave us victory because he won the battle over sin.  He gave us victory because he sits triumphantly at the right hand of God the Father.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

It was the ultimate sacrifice.  According to the Bible and the definition given to us by Dictionary.com, we really do have victory in Jesus!  We can worship Jesus by the way we coach, the way we live, and by the legacy we leave.  Next time you think about victory and winning a championship, check your heart and make sure that you are doing everything for the glory of God!

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Is Cam Newton a Terrible Leader?

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NO. GET OFF HIS BACK.

He was beaten.  The Denver defense was simply better on the day that it mattered most.  He has every right to be frustrated.  

Six sacks, two fumbles, and one interception later; Cam Newton sits in a chair in front of members of the media who will ask anything to get a good story.  I mean, this dude just lost one of the biggest games of his life and now he has to answer for it?  It was guaranteed that the media would ask the worst questions at the worst time.  Any one of us would naturally react to this situation with negativity and frustration, right?

LEADERS FAIL.  I GET IT.

Frustration is understandable, especially after losing a game as big as the Super Bowl.  None of us understand the pressure these guys face and we can certainly respect the hard work and dedication they encompass over the course of a long, grueling season.  It was obvious that Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman were hurt by the loss and expressed their frustration.  I can't imagine getting that far only to come up short.  But Cam Newton is the leader of his team and everyone knows it.  The only voice that mattered after that game was his...

AND HE BLEW IT.

“Leaders are bound to fail. They will have a choice to respond with class or react with disdain. The choice they make will determine if their leadership will make a positive or negative impact on those around them.”

There were no other thoughts that I had other than that I was disappointed with this so called "leader" and his lack of character after a tough loss.  In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, here is a clip of his postgame press conference:

HOLD UP.  I'M NOT A CAM NEWTON HATER.

Before you start getting defensive, truth be told, I really like watching Cam Newton play football.  I've never seen someone play with the kind of energy and passion that he brings every day.  His smile lights up the room and his dancing entertains me.  He is a fantastic football player and a great person.  The fact that kids want to grow up to be like Cam Newton should be enough to make you realize that this guy is special.  

HANDLE THE LOSS WITH CLASS, CAM!

Ok, so let's go back to the real question.  Is Cam Newton a terrible leader?  No, he is not.  But his reactions in the post game press conference last night were unacceptable.  Here we have a 26 year old man that acted like my two year old daughter when she can't have more than three pieces of chewy sweet tarts before bed.  Life is tough and unfair.  Get over it!  Cam Newton is as natural of a leader as they come and he chose to react to a situation rather than respond.  The dabbing and dancing is all great, but show consistency in your leadership. Be the same man you are after a loss as you are after a win.  Some say he was displaying wisdom by walking off the stage before he said something he would regret.  I don't buy that.  He's better than that. There is no doubt that he has what it takes to be a great quarterback.  He's proven that.  But if he wants to sustain his success and impact lives the way he says he does, then he needs to learn how to handle failure.  I think Cam Newton is a tremendous leader that had a bad game both on and off the field last night.  But at the same time, his actions were unacceptable.  There is no excusing his whining and pouting, regardless of circumstances.  I fail.  You fail.  We all fail.  But that's not a good enough excuse!  We need to change.

“Control what you can control. You can’t control the circumstances or the outcome of the game. You can’t control the questions you’re asked or the criticism you’ll face. But regardless of what happens, you always have the opportunity to control your attitude.”

Cam Newton is not a terrible leader.  He is a 26 year old man that has unlimited potential.  I do not excuse his reaction last night, but this experience could be a game changer for Cam.  If he can learn from his failure and respond with wisdom to change, there is no reason that I wouldn't become his biggest fan.  

The ball will be in your hands once again, Cam, and everyone will be looking at how you respond.

*Noted - It is clear that Cam Newton heard the Broncos players press conference and walked off after hearing their comments.  Again, his actions are understandable, but not acceptable.  The NFL needs to put a little more thought into the placement of post game pressers as it can play a part in situations like this.

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The ABC's of Recruiting

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Being a great recruiter is one of the most important skills that any college coach can possess.  You can be the best X's & O's guy in the world, but without the right people in your program, your success can be short lived.  It is our responsibility as coaches to accurately and effectively recruit  the student-athletes who will succeed in our program and ultimately benefit themselves and the university as a whole.  The foundation of being a great recruiter begins with these "ABC's."

A - ASSESS THE TALENT

It is very hard to win without talent, so the first step in recruiting a player needs to be an assessment of his abilities.  It is important that we gain an idea and form an opinion of the player as soon as we first lay eyes on him.  Raw athleticism and highlight worthy dunks are intriguing, but make sure that you do your due diligence and pay attention to the finer details of a player's game.  Does he see the floor well?  Can he dribble with his left hand?  Is his strength & conditioning at a place we can continue to build on?  Does he have a solid basketball IQ?  The list could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Don't be lured in by a player that can do a 360, but can't shoot, dribble, or defend.  Make sure that the attributes of his game will fit well in your program and be a solution to your needs as a team.  

B - BUILD A RELATIONSHIP

Most coaches are pretty good at the first step of recruiting and can assess talent very well, but they lack the ability to build a relationship with that player.  High school and college age student-athletes want to be mentored and challenged by you as a coach, so take advantage of the opportunity to pour into their life as much as you possibly can.  I understand that there are rules and guidelines that make this step in recruiting difficult, but that shouldn't mean you can't do it.  Be creative and diligent in building quality relationships even if you are limited in the amount of time you can contact the recruit.  Use the time you have to ask questions about their friends, family, dreams, and life after college.  Don't limit your communication to only basketball related topics.  Make sure the recruits know that you care about them for more than just their ability to play basketball.  

C - CHARACTER MATTERS

This is easily the most difficult aspect of recruiting.  It's relatively easy to find talent and you can force yourself to build a relationship with recruits, but it is extremely hard to see what kind of person they truly are.  Players want to be recruited and they will do almost anything to make you think they deserve a scholarship, but how will they respond when adversity presents itself?  It is your job as a coach to look for signs of character throughout the recruiting process.  How does he respond to a bad call?  Is his body language telling me something positive or negative?  How does he talk to his parents?  Does he seek counsel or does he have all the answers?  How does he treat the people around him?  Again, the list could go on and on.  Obviously, there is no perfect kid out there who will never make a mistake, but it is the job of the coach to decide whether or not a player has the character that will represent your program's culture the way you want it.  Don't settle for poor character just because a recruit is an amazing athlete.  Talent is never enough and a player with no character will hurt your team more than they can help it.  

If you can effectively perform these "ABC's" while recruiting players for your team, I am confident that you will be setting your program up for future success!

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Hold Me Accountable, Please.

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When coaches and players talk about accountability, it is far too often done for the wrong reasons and wrapped up in rules and regulations.  The most common way to hold someone accountable is to throw a rule book or a policy at them with no thought as to how that will influence someone's life.  People, especially college student-athletes, are hungry for mentoring and accountability, but there are too few authentic leaders helping them. This is a problem.

If we truly want to hold others accountable and influence their growth, we need to do it out of love and sincere relationship building.  We need to spend time understanding those around us and commit to holding ourselves accountable first.  Best selling author, Jon Gordon, recently tweeted some great content related to accountability as seen below:

I think that Jon Gordon has this idea of accountability spot on!  Instead of talking about your program culture and its rules, try to lead with relationships, love, and the pursuit of excellence and true accountability will naturally flow from this type of leadership.  When we commit to this, our players and those we work with will begin to see our heart and want to give their best for you and the program!