Prior to my time in
the world of software development, I spent roughly 12 years coaching college
basketball. I enjoyed every minute that I was afforded to be part of coaching a
team. Laying out a vision, implementing that vision and developing tools and process
to develop our program and players, was as thrilling to me as being on the
floor teaching a player how to rebound from the weakside of the floor or the
proper way to shoot a basketball. Winning games and fortunately a few small
college national championships were some of our best moments - but what I miss
the most is that daily grind of developing a program, getting players(kids) to
buy into a process that would ultimately serve them.
Even though I am now
in the software business where I've traded a gym floor for a cubicle in some
scenarios. I am still drawn to team development and processes that enable
people/players to develop to their full potential. Sports, athletic programs
and the ideals of player development are relevant in the world of software
teams and businesses at large. I still read and study as much as I can from
coaches I admire. Below are some thoughts from John Calipari who is the head
basketball coach at the University of Kentucky - arguably the premier college
basketball program in the nation.
As I got into this
article I realized that I'd have to break it up into a few blog posts since I
found value in every piece.
http://www.coachcal.com/39696/2016/07/changing-our-approach-while-maintaining-our-mindset/
By John Calipari -
July 2, 2016
Changing
our approach while maintaining our mindset.
"How do we
continue to grow and stay ahead of the curve?"
- Keep in mind that Kentucky is
the gold standard for college basketball (them and Duke) in today's
landscape of college basketball. Here is a coach that wins 30+ games a
year, has won a national championship, been to multiple final fours and
has had countless players selected in the first round of the NBA draft.
Stay ahead of the curve? They are the curve, people/coaches/programs work
round the clock to emulate what they do. What is striking is this mindset
of taking inventory of where you are, where you're going, who is going
with you and how are you going to do it. After the end of the season and
winning over 30 games again, Coach Cal is introspective on what they can
do to improve. The word complacency comes to mind - we've reached the top -
we're good now. Here is what one of my favorite coaches of all time says -
Coach Don Meyer: "Complacency is the forerunner of mediocrity."
One of my co-workers (Clint Edmonson) here at Polaris Solutions said in an
interview, "Have the white belt mentality" meaning you're never
the black belt, there is more to learn, more to win - we've done well, but
we haven't accomplished anything yet focus. Recently Nick Saban (Alabama
Football Coach - won 4 or last 7 National Championships) said "Complacency
creates a blatant disregard for doing what's right, you just can't do what
you feel like doing". This morning my boss asked to go on a walk with
me around our parking lot. We talked about a variety of things but he had
some very pointed questions for me. "What do you like that we are
doing?" and "What do you feel we can do better or what do you
feel we do too much of?" Great questions from someone that wants to
continue to grow and stay ahead of the curve and build his 'program'. I didn’t have great answers
for him on this second question - his response to me was to make sure I
have one the next time he asks - continuous improvement.
"Our foundation
and our approach towards being a players-first program and doing everything we
can to help these kids is not going to change."
- I spent ten of my years
coaching up in Michigan. If you live in Michigan and love sports it is
only a matter of time before you wind up organizing your Saturday's around
Michigan Football. Once you commit to rooting for Michigan it is only a
matter of time before you learn about the great Bo Schembechler. Bo's most
famous quote is 'The Team, The Team, The Team". A bit of a difference
to what Coach Cal says - "Players first program" - Bo: The Team,
The Team, The Team. Regardless if your philosophy is 'The Team' or 'Players First' Id argue that both are centered around the team. Coach Cal knows the vision and mission of his program is centered on the team and he sells his team first vision by pushing each player for personal development. Im finishing up a book titled "This is Lean" by Niklas Modig in it he spends a fair amount of time talking about the Toyota Production System (TPS). How Toyota changed the manufacturing industry by being lean. The two pillars of the 'Toyota Way' are Continuous Improvement and Respect for People (Respect and Teamwork). I think this is exactly what Coach Cal is talking about when he says "our approach towards being a players-first program". Demand that the players or employees improve and give them the coaching and tools to improve. Secondly, show them its a players first program by respecting their goals and dreams by providing opportunities for them to achieve those goals. Players and employees will buy into your vision for the team when they see you care about them first. Coach Don Meyer used to say 'they dont care how much you know till they see how much you care'. Once they see that you care and are helping them develop and contribute to the team you get buy in and your team takes the vision you are creating.
For more info on me and Polaris Solutions you can follow me on twitter @gevjen