I want my assistant coaches to get and land jobs advancing their careers! When it is all said and done, I want to have a huge coaching tree and to pay forward what my mentors have done for me. Ironically, this is an incredible way to recruit new coaching talent! How we can we accomplish this?

Winning your assistant coaches must happen before they can ever get developed. Our program top to bottom has to be founded on connection.

I WILL NOT criticize, condemn or blame.

I WILL show understanding, forgiveness, and allow them to save face.

I WILL give honest and sincere appreciation as much as possible.

I WILL GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!

I WILL always strive to make them feel important

I WILL look for areas of agreement

I WILL let them opine, suggest, vent

I WILL NOT be defensive, resistant, or debate

I WILL show respect to their opinions

I WILL NOT ever explicitly say “you’re wrong”

I WILL admit when I am wrong!

The way to building ourselves up to our best version is simple: SHOW, MODEL, TEACH, PRACTICE, RE-TEACH, PRACTICE MORE, RELINQUISH, TRUST, COOPERATE, GUIDE, LET GO, COOPERATE, HELP, LET GO. TRUST, REPEAT.

Ultimately, in economic theory, work becomes a chore because it is alienated labor. Labor is alienated when there is no direct tie to the work itself where ownership, creativity, and motivations are determined externally. As much as possible then, I want to foster the ideal of craftsmanship with my coaches so that the work itself and aspects of the team become theirs and an expression of their creative will instead of simply “the job.”

I WILL give trust until proven otherwise, correct, then try again!

I WILL let them find ways to accomplish tasks asked of them

I WILL give them ownership of different aspects of the program

I WILL GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE! AGAIN AND AGAIN!

I WILL give regular feedback; just like the players

I WILL help them grow their network

I WILL train and develop them

I WILL grow their responsibilities over time

I WILL give them the authority befitting their responsiblities

I WILL MODEL WHAT I EXPECT! Hypocrisy breeds discord