🏆 12 Ways Coaches Can Hurt their Team Culture.

Thank you to our sponsors who keep this newsletter free for our 2650+ readers.

ONE THOUGHT

Coaches can HURT their team culture too. How does it happen?

The #1 responsibility of a coach is to build the culture of the team and program they are leading.

Coaches must know that every decision they make impacts their team culture and has a tremendous impact on the team and program.

Developing culture is an ongoing process, even for veteran coaches.

As coaches, we all have the ability to hurt our team or program culture, just as players can. Coaches often do not even know it is happening until it is too late.

Culture is always a long-term commitment. It is about consistency. It is about success over the long haul.

And ultimately, Culture WINS.

I define culture as:

1. What you Allow

2. What you Emphasize

3. Every Day

It is crucial that a coach thinks about their culture with every decision that is being made.

As the primary leader of the program, the coach sets the standards. They determine what is allowed and emphasized, and they are tasked to do this daily.

Culture is also very fragile. It can take years to build, but it can be destroyed quickly.

Players can destroy culture with their behavior and actions if a coach does not address them. I wrote about this in an earlier newsletter.

Coaches can also destroy a culture with their own actions or lack of action.

Below is a list of 12 ways how coaches hurt their team culture.

1: Empower talented players w/poor character

Talent is important. But it cannot trump character. If you allow kids with more talent to get away with poor choices, it will sabotage your culture. Don’t sacrifice the long term for the short term. It never works. Play the long game with culture.

2: Favoritism of own child

Some coaches get blinders with their own children. They play them ahead of others who are more deserving. They recommend them for awards they didn’t earn. This cannot happen. The coach loses the team's respect, making it hard to get it back. Be objective, and use your assistants; it can be done.

3: Not lead by example

The coach is the primary leader of the program. Coaches cannot ask others to do something they are unwilling to do themselves. A coach does not have to be perfect. But a coach must work to lead by example and be a good human being.

4: Not be committed

Coaches want commitment from kids. Coaches must commit too. They must put in the time. They must be dedicated. No Deposit - No Return. Kids and parents can see the commitment of a coach. It is much harder to criticize coaches when it is known they are doing their part and putting in the time and commitment.

5: Be too controlling

It is great to have high standards. It is excellent to hold others accountable. It is NOT great to try and control every movement on or off the court of your players. Too much control from the coach will create negative players. Find your sweet spot. Have standards, but focus on winning the war and not just the battle.

6: Not address bad behavior

If you allow bad behavior and do not address it on your team, your culture will erode quickly. What you ALLOW becomes your culture. Other players pick up on this too. Be consistent.

7: Pick the wrong leaders

Player leadership is HUGE on a team. Player-led teams win. Sometimes coaches pick kids who they WANT to be leaders and not kids who have the voice of the team. This can be an automatic culture killer. Find your tone setters. Find your leaders. Find those who are deserving and committed. Ask your players. Check out my FREE Pre-Season Perception handout for how I use player feedback to help select captains and determine roles early in the season.

8: Bad mouth your players

Don’t bad mouth your players. It will get back to them and the team. When this happens, a coach will lose the trust of the team. Poor team culture is sure to follow. Be 100% honest and open with players. Do not talk behind their back.

9: Not honest about roles

Coaches have to be clear and honest about player roles. Don’t tell players what they want to hear. Tell them the truth. Unclear roles create bitterness in a team. Players start bad-mouthing the coach or other players.

10: Poor communication

Communication is essential for a coach. Not just with players but with parents, administration, and the community. Poor communication creates uncertainty. It creates distrust. Focus on being proactive and communicating clearly with all stakeholders in your program. This will prevent a lot of issues that can quickly erode a culture.

11: Disorganization

Coaching is an incredibly dynamic job. There is a lot to it. A coach must be organized. When they are not, kids lose trust and direction. The standards are lowered. The culture is lowered as well.

12: Not listen to your players

Coaches need to listen to their players. The team leaders have the pulse of the team. If they come to you with ideas or thoughts, listen. Reach out to them as well. When a coach does not listen, the players lose faith and trust, and when you do not have trust, a negative culture will follow.

I am sure this list is incomplete. I am sure there are many other examples of how the actions or inaction of a coach can hurt a team's culture.

Coaching is an incredibly challenging and dynamic job.

It is hard to be a coach.

It is easy for others to criticize and judge when they are not in the arena.

As coaches, we must remember that we control our Culture Each and Every Day. Make sure you are not doing things that will negatively impact or destroy the culture of your team.

Be conscious of this and make daily decisions that create the culture you want for your program and team!

Good Luck!

TWO QUOTES

THREE TWEETS

BOOKS: Culture WINS and Coaching GOLD

Find both eBooks, BUNDLE DEALS, & other FREE Resources here: gberge.gumroad.com.

Paperback versions? Culture Wins on Amazon; Coaching Gold on Amazon.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

If you are looking, here are a few other resources and services I provide:

1. Sponsorship: Promote yourself or your product to thousands of subscribers by sponsoring this newsletter. Contact me or reply.

2. Sports Leadership Summit: Book a Sports Leadership Summit for your Athletes & Coaches.

3. Leadership Workshops: Check out my other Leadership and Culture Workshops.

4. Resources: Check out my Gumroad Site for FREE Resources for Coaches

5. Contact: Email me at [email protected] for any other inquiries.

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]