MARCH MADNESS LEADERSHIP LESSONS

So many great leadership lessons come from sports. This is why I am such a huge advocate for keeping our kids active in team sports. Team sports provide such a wonderful opportunity for parents to lean in a little closer to the kids and whisper something profound on the car ride home. That whisper can impact a life time!

During the course of the last 3 to 4 weeks, which are the best 4 weeks in sports, I noticed there became a few obvious leadership qualities to high light.

1. Bad calls are part of life. It felt like the refs missed every block / charge call. And in almost every game a key player got into early foul trouble. The media has had a field day replaying not only the missed calls from this year but dredging up most of the significantly bad calls from the last 25 years.

What I didn't see the great coaches doing was letting the negative emotion of a bad call to affect their team much past the next play. Oh, I saw a few coaches get their point across to a referee but for the most part they went to the next play. And at the end of the game, they made no excuses.

Referees, coaches, teachers, parents, bosses, friends and almost everyone else we come in contact with will make a mistake. Great coaches tell their players to "forget it and play on." Sometimes players can use that emotion as fuel to overcome. Brooks and Ryanne Corder have heard 1000 times, "Bad Calls are Part of Life!"

2. Believe in your team and give them something to believe in: We had a recent discussion in a bible study, did Peter start sinking after walking on the water because he doubted Jesus or because he doubted himself? What amazing power we have on our children, our staff teams, our classrooms, our sports teams, etc when we can say with conviction, "I know you can do it! I believe in you."

Kevin Ollie has noted 100 times how he has told his team, even after the losses that he believed in them. The powerful message that is flowing in and around today's leadership research is that people want to work for something they believe in. The key for the coach - boss - leader is helping the player - employee draw a line between the work they are doing and the mission/goal.

The big outcome of this leadership style is I have noticed unwavering devotion and loyalty to the coach. The players seem to all be motivated to win for the coach!

3. Great things come out of a culture that combines experience with youth and enthusiasm: Of course unbelievable athleticism doesn't hurt. I must admit I am not a fan of the Freshman led teams. I like the fact that many of the early upsets came from experienced mid major programs.

Our YMCA staff team has gotten younger in the last year. Early on that gave me some angst, but the outcome has created some new energy. Especially since the younger staff are such high performers. Maybe it's the excitement around developing new leaders, I am not sure. I hear coaches talk about freshman being a blank canvas and molding them into greater players.

Increased talent, regardless of age or experience raises the productivity bar. Competition is good and sometimes that wakes up and rejuvenates some of the veterans. I think it also creates a dynamic where youth and enthusiasm meets mature and experienced role models and mentors.

You can't consistently win with an all young team and maybe a team of all veterans gets stuck in complacency and a jaded reality of success. A good combination is the recipe for wins!

New Year's Resolutions

I have laughed this week at the many videos on Facebook about crazy members. Click to see video. January and New Years Resolutions bring them out! The long term members of the Y always grumble this time of year about all the new members that join in January but drop by March. They have a name for them, “Tourists.” 

I think we need to stop making fun of the “Tourists” and take a different approach with them : 

We need to INSPIRE THEM.

One of the top issues facing our country, our states and our communities is the health of our citizens. It’s hard to pick up a magazine or newspaper today and not read about childhood obesity, diabetes, or cancer. It truly is an epidemic for our country.

So the next time you’re at the Y or where ever you choose to exercise, when you see a new face on the treadmill next to you, here are some things you can do:

1.       Smile

2.       Introduce yourself

3.       Introduce them to other members

4.       Encourage them

5.       Compliment them

6.       Let them know you miss them if they miss a few days

7.       Invite them to a class they may be too intimidated to take

      My hope is that you can be relational enough, to engage the new members about living a healthier lifestyle. Invest yourself for the sake of a healthy life. This could have an impact on the health of our communities in monumental proportions. It may also impact your life with a new relationship!

“Don’t wait until you care to start investing in someone’s life. You invest in someone’s life in order to care.”

Wine, Beer and Bourbon Reviews

Is it beer before liquor and you are OK?

Either way, on the way back from South Bend, I stopped at a few wineries/breweries to get some Christmas gifts. I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, but I thought I would review my selections for you.

I will start with a Christmas Cherry Wine from Buck Creek Winery in Indianapolis, IN. I chose this wine for two reasons. First, my in-laws like a sweet wine and second it had a picture of a red-nosed reindeer on the label. The wine does smell sweet. My first sip reminds me of a Cheerwine with some kick. It goes down smooth. It is probably not good to drink when you are thirsty because my second glass went down as fast as the first.

My second wine is an apple wine from McClure's Orchards in Peru, IN. It has the hint of oak from the barrel, vanilla and is also sweet like apple juice. I bought this wine (Don't tell April) because the sales lady was cute. She tried to show me the correct way to taste and smell wine, but as I drink this wine, you can't just sip it. I mean you need to tip this glass up and try and get every ounce out of the glass. Just drop your finger in there. It taste great on your finger.

At McClure's, they also sold some apple beer. I will try this beer like was in college so I will use a funnel. WOW, It feels so good when it goes down! That is smooth. One more.....Someone tell Brooks to quit kaughing. It's ahrd to tipe when he is makng fun ofme.

My thrd tasting is a shot of bourbon from Town Branch Bourbon in Lexington, KY. I hate the Kentucky Wildcats. Its hard to drink this swill knowing it is close ti tht slimy head bskeball coch. But man that has a smooth brn when it goes down. Whew its's getting hiot in here. "So take your clothes off."

Shut up Brooks I am Nellie!

And for my frth drunk, iam thsjnskfjUGSDmmmmmmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

DISCRETIONARY EFFORT

I have a few Leadership blogs that I enjoy reading. One of my favorite bloggers is Kris Dunn and he led me to this site. The video is quick and powerful.

It may be the best video I've seen related to Employee Engagement, and it's from the Employee Engagement Group.

After you watch this, think about who is rowing in your boat and figure out what discretionary effort is worth to your company.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4nwoZ02AJM