Steve Hermanos wrote an article in San Francisco’s Marina Times about successful coaching tips for Little Leaguers. The tips, taken from the Positive Coaching Alliance, are reminiscent of the wisdom of All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. Perhaps leaders, managers, business owners and us executive coaches can take these tips to heart. I’ve paraphrased some of Steve’s tips here in bold with a few interpretive thoughts of my own in italics. I’ve also included a reminder about how each tip is rooted in a core value.
SH: Bad coaches talk too much.
KM: Executive leaders too often tell rather than ask. There is a time to be directive, but leadership is about asking questions and soliciting opinions from our intelligent workforces. (The core value of Listening.)
SH: Bad coaches let disruptive kids disrupt too much.
KM: Like with bad sportsmanship, negativity in a workforce breaks down teamwork. Supportive interactions among leaders, managers, and employees send a message that employees respect and care about their colleagues. (The core value of Support.)
SH: Take off your sunglasses and make eye contact.
KM: Teaching, managing, and leading all require personal connections. Ever try to have a meaningful conversation with someone when you can’t see his or her eyes? Eye contact is necessary for communication and establishing relationships; and relationships are necessary if you are going to have influence as a coach or leader. (The core value of Relationships.)
SH: Good coaches use kid’s real names and encourage the other kids to use their names, too. When a kid makes a good play, have the other kids say, “Nice play, (name)!” If they make it a habit, it knits the team together.
KM: In The One Minute Manager, Blanchard and Johnson advised, “catch someone doing something right” and reward them publically. Public recognition is a powerful motivator and creates a behavioral model for other employees and managers. (The core value of Teamwork.)
SH: If during a game, a player makes a terrible play, the worst thing you can do is yell.
KM: I am stunned each time I hear about a manager who loses control and resorts to yelling, embarrassing others, and intimidation. From Psychology 101: Punishment shuts people down and leads to resentment. It is a short-term losing strategy. (The core value of Respect.)
SH: They are all good kids. If they have nasty attitudes it’s always from their home or school life. The field of play is an opportunity for the kids to leave those other worlds aside and be athletes.
KM: A values-driven organization provides an environment to bring out the best in our people no matter what the pressures from other parts of their lives. A set of core values creates a template to help people be the best they can be…for themselves and for the company. (The core value of Excellence.)
SH: Make positive comments at least 90 percent of the time.
KM: Agreed. (The core value of Positive Attitude.)