🏆 What Wins?

Many think you only need “Talent” to win. Certainly, some talent is needed. In my mind, you need "enough" talent to win.

Author

Greg Berge
November 02, 2023

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Here's what's coming:

  • 6 Keys to Winning 🏆

  • Pat Riley Gold 🥇

  • A Kevin DeShazo Post 🆇

  • Read Time ~ 5 minutes.

Let's dive in

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💭 ONE THOUGHT
What Wins?

Too many people think you only need “talent” to win.

Certainly, some talent is needed. In my mind, you need "enough" talent to win.

Many teams have “enough” talent.

But then what? How do they do it? What are the keys?

I believe six keys are developed in winning teams. As coaches, we should focus on developing these six areas year in and year out and work to be systemic in their development. The best coaches do this.

Here are the 6 Keys to Winning Teams.

1. Commitment

Committed players make up committed teams. And winning teams are committed teams.

It is that simple.

How do you develop a commitment to excellence? It takes time and is a critical part of developing a culture.

I think it is critical to focus on the tone setters on your team and do whatever you can to ensure they are committed. Peer pressure is big, especially with high school athletes. If you can get your core players committed, the rest usually follow.

Our basketball program uses our 300-Hour Club Off-Season Program to help foster a culture of commitment. It has been essential in the success of our program.

2. Toughness

Toughness is both physical and mental. And tough teams win.

I believe TOUGH teams win. What does TOUGH stand for?

  • T = Tight Knit

  • O = Optimistic

  • U = Unselfish

  • G = Gritty

  • H = Humble

How do you develop toughness in your team?

3. Mindset

Mindset is about how you interpret change and adversity.

  • Do you have a growth mindset?

  • Do you bring positive energy?

  • How do you view failure?

Successful athletes have growth mindsets. They view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Kobe had a great perspective on failure.

4. Competitiveness

Competitiveness is a critical athletic skill.

In my opinion, it is the most important in sport.

There is a difference between playing hard and competing. Competing is playing to win. Competitors know HOW to win. They know what wins.

How do you teach your athletes how to compete? How do you create a culture of competition?

5. Leadership

Player-led teams win, and the best coaches are always working to develop their team leaders systematically.

How do you develop your team leaders year after year?

Unfortunately, there are many coaches who HOPE and WISH for team leaders each season. They do not purposefully develop them.

This is why I developed the Team Leader OS - To help coaches grow and develop their team leaders each and every year!

6. Culture

Finally, and maybe most important, is an ongoing focus on culture.

The best coaches know that developing culture is the #1 job of a coach.

Culture is:

  1. What you Allow

  2. What you Emphasize

  3. Every Day!

Great coaches engage in constant reflection on their culture. They make sure that their standards are defined, communicated, and clear.

What is your culture?

Summary:

Great teams have talent. But more importantly, great teams are focused on developing and growing their team in the following six areas:

  1. Commitment

  2. Mindset

  3. Toughness

  4. Competitiveness

  5. Leadership

  6. Culture

As a coach, it is incredibly important that you constantly reflect on how you best develop these skills in your team.

This is what separates good teams from great teams.

Good Luck!

📜 TWO QUOTES

“Victory is in having done your best. If you’ve done your best, you’ve won.”

– Bill Bowerman, former U.S. track and field coach.

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.”

– Pat Riley

🐦 THREE TWEETS 

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Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]

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