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First, I just want to say ‘Thank You’ to anyone who coaches! Coaching America’s youth is such a calling and America needs you!!!
What leadership books are you reading? Below are questions and thoughts on leadership and in parenthesis are the books where I have got that information.
1. Question – What if your organization/team just, ‘sucks?’
2. Thought – This humorous story underscores the importance of effective leadership. During a sales meeting, the manager was berating the sales staff for their dismally low sales figures, “I’ve had just about enough of poor performance and excuses,” he said. “If you can’t do the job, perhaps there are other sales people out there who would jump at the chance to sell the worthy products that each of you has the privilege to represent.” Then, pointing to a newly recruited, retired pro-football player, he said, “If a football team isn’t winning, what happens? The players are replaced. Right?”
The question hung heavy for a few seconds; then the ex-football player answered, “Actually, sir, if the whole team was having trouble, we usually got a new coach.” (Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell)
1. Question – If you are in a leadership position, and who of us is not, what leaders do you study? And, what books are you reading to make you a better leader?
2. Thought –
A LEADER TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE (Mark 1:29-34)
So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. (Mark 1:31)
A leader takes care of his followers and those important to his followers.
Those you are leading can only be effective when their needs and the needs of their families are met; an effective leader understands this and is sensitive to it. Serve your followers and their families.
This may sound “soft” to some hard-driving, goal-oriented modern leaders, but it is truly the ultimate hard-nosed formula for success. By removing obstacles to their focus, you enable your followers to concentrate on their given tasks. As strange as it may seem, the surest way for a leader to succeed is to put others first, including the families of those he leads.
Note that Jesus did not instruct one of His followers to help the woman up so that He could heal her; Jesus went to her and helped her up. He became personally involved in solving the problem – a small detail for someone with such an important mission.
It could have been argued that Jesus didn’t have the time, but no one could criticize Him for not taking the time. Through this simple action, He proves that, although it is always easier to say, “Let me take care of this for me,” it is often better to say, “Let me take care of it myself.” Just as the woman Jesus healed acknowledged His grace by attending to the needs of Jesus and His followers, so will your followers and their families remember and appreciate your personal touch. (The Leadership Lessons of Jesus by Bob Briner & Ray Pritchard)
1. Question – What does a mechanic do with a son who loves books?
2. Thought – My dad repaired oil-field engines for a living and rebuilt car engines for fun. Dad loved machines. But God gave him a mechanical moron…a son who couldn’t differentiate between a differential and a brake disc. My dad tried to teach me. I tried to learn. Honestly, I did.Machines anesthetized me. But books fascinated me. What does a mechanic do with a son who loves books? He gives him a library card. Buys him a few volumes for Christmas. Places a lamp by his bed so he can read at night. Pays tuition so his son can study college literature in high school. My dad did that.You know what he didn’t do? Never once did he say, “Why can’t you be a mechanic like your dad and granddad?” The greatest gift you can give your children is not your riches, but revealing to them their own!
From Dad Time (Max Lucado)
Dads vote with their feet! (Mike Sharp)
1. Question – As a leader, do you love your organization, team, city? Your country?
2. Thought – Irrationally Patriotic by G.K. Chesterton (According to Chesterton, men must not love their native land because it is great; they must make it great because they love it. They must love it because it is theirs. It is this irrational love and loyalty that frees men to see their city as it is – and to praise, critique, and reform it. In the excerpt below, Chesterton focuses on the neighborhood of Pimlico in London, England.)
Let us suppose we are confronted with a desperate thing – say Pimlico. If we think what is really best for Pimlico we shall find the thread of thought leads to the throne or the mystic and the arbitrary. It is not enough for a man to disapprove of Pimlico: in that case he will merely cut his throat or move to Chelsea. Nor, certainly, it is enough for a man to approve of Pimlico: for then it will remain Pimlico, which would be awful. The only way out of it seems to be for somebody to love Pimlico: to love it with a transcendental tie and without any earthly reason. If there arose a man who loved Pimlico, then Pimlico would rise into ivory towers and golden pinnacles; Pimlico would attire herself as a woman does when she is loved. For decoration is not given to hide horrible things: but to decorate things already adorable. A mother does not give her child a blue bow because he is so ugly without it. A lover does not give a girl a necklace to hide her neck. If men loved Pimlico as mothers love children, arbitrarily, because it is theirs, Pimlico in a year or two might be fairer than Florence. Some readers will say that this is mere fantasy. I answer that this is actually the history of mankind. This, as a fact, is how cities did grow great. Go back to the darkest roots of civilization and you will find them knotted round some sacred stone or encircling some sacred well. People first paid honour to a spot and afterwards gained glory for it. Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her. (The Book of Man by William J. Bennett)
Do you teach your children to love America?
WRESTLING
I want to write a little about one sport in particular – Wrestling. My wife and I have been attending wrestling matches for at least 15 years. The sport simply amazes me.
I believe wrestling is the best character building sport in the world. I’ve seen more young men change for the better. I’ve seen a quitter quit quitting. I’ve seen a bully change. I’ve seen a somewhat arrogant young boy become humbled. But mostly, I’ve seen young boys grow to understand their limits, understand perseverance, understand their tempers, and understand humility. I’ve seen a fraternity form for life. Incredible. Just incredible!
You don’t see the type of showmanship or ‘self-glorification’ in wrestling that we see all over the TV. Don’t get me wrong. Wrestlers have confidence and they have pride in being a wrestler. But they also have a tremendous amount of respect for others. It’s just not glamorous and showy. You don’t see fights at wrestling matches either. These kids are in hand to hand combat and play by the rules. Most just take their losses, shake hands, and move on. You see a lot of them sit by themselves reflecting on what just happened. Blaming is internal. Some get mad if they lose and if they get out of hand, you always see a coach address it right then and there. No private, ‘Parent-Teacher’ conferences in wrestling.
And wrestling coaches: Thank You! What great Americans you all are! I wish you were all in politics. But, I know what you’d say to that.
Comments from coaches I greatly admire
THE BIG PICTURE: From Pops, who has mentored many and I am so fortunate to have had time with this man. He said, “Mark, Life is like a football game. You only have so many innings to play, and if you don’t get the ball in the basket, you have to turn in your ice skates.”
SECOND & THIRD PLACE TROPHIES: Another from Pops: He said, “We went wrong with second and third place trophies. Only one trophy should be given out to the winner.”
CUSSING: After a last minute loss while coaching kids as the head coach, I was so so upset at myself and the players. An assistant of mine, Andy Leonard said, “Mark, you gotta laugh, or you’re gonna cuss.” I needed that at that time
Another coach who I deeply respect said, “We can coach these kids without using swear words. Can you?”
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I think the world went wrong when they give trophies for participation….everyone is a winner?
Dan,
I have a mentor back in Charlotte whom I coached with that said the same thing. He said, “Second place trophies spoiled our kids!”
He also said, “Life is like a football game, you only got so many innings to play, and if you don’t get the ball in the basket, you have to turn in your ice skates!”