Serve, Coach, Lead Newsletter #23: Can We Reach Everyone?

We can't reach everyone.

This is an unfortunate truth that I have had to come to terms with as a coach.

We can invest all of our time, effort, and energy into a player.

However, at the end of the day they still may not buy-in to our program/values/beliefs.

This demonstrates the 10-80-10 principle which separates any team into three categories:

The top ten percent of team members will do whatever is necessary to help the team win. They are your hardest workers, help others make good decisions, and are self-motivated. They take it upon themselves to ensure that the program is represented well by themselves and their teammates.

The majority of any given team falls within the eighty percent. They will do what is asked of them, give sufficient effort during practices and games, and adhere to the values of the program.

The bottom ten percent are the members that will not agree with what we say or do, regardless of the circumstances. They are defiant, and often do not care what the coaches are trying to accomplish within the program.

It is important to remember that the bottom ten percent are not this way because of our leadership. As mentioned before, we can put all of our attention towards helping them buy-in to our values and vision for the program, but it probably won't change their perspective.

I am a firm believer that people are a product of their past experiences. We often get pushback from athletes that:

1. Have never been held to a high standard

2. Never had to learn to handle adversity or failure

3. Do not hold their own set of moral values or beliefs

So, what can we do to overcome these past experiences that our athletes have had?

Don't let me convince you that we shouldn't try. This is most definitely not what I am saying.

Our most important role as a coach is to be a source of constant support for our players. We should strive to build a relationship with each and every person within our organizations. Instead of "writing a kid off" we can work to get to know them on a deeper level. Understanding their background can give us insight into why they may not adhere to the guidelines that we set within our programs. This mutual trust can often help players understand our perspective as a coach.

However, I will go back to some of the best coaching advice I have gotten:

Coach the kids that are there.

If you are a youth or high school coach, this applies to the offseason workouts that are unofficially a part of your job description. Instead of worrying about all of the players that are not showing up, pour all of your energy into coaching the athletes that make the effort to be there. If you create an environment where athletes learn, have fun, and develop, then their peers will want to be a part of it. Focus your attention on creating practices that facilitate learning and foster a love for the game.

Our goal beyond high school is to find athletes that are mentally and emotionally present. Focusing on the eighty percent (and utilizing the influence of the ten percent that are already bought in) will propel a team forward. Through consistent messaging, planning, and energy we can get full buy-in from those that start in the eighty percent. Athletes that show up with a good attitude and a willingness to learn will thrive in this environment. Leaders will begin to develop as each player becomes an advocate for the program.

This week, I encourage you to seek to create relationship with everyone within your program. Give them opportunities to get to know you better to create more trust and understanding.

Remember that not everyone is going to reciprocate your effort and passion, and that is okay. All we can can do is continue to love those around us.

Thank you for continuing to read and follow this newsletter. If there are people in your lives that you believe would benefit from reading leadership lessons through sports each week, please pass this this link along to them.

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If you would like to reread the last edition of the newsletter, you can find it here.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to connecting with you all next week.

God Bless!