7 Coaching Lessons from the World of Sport: #6

#6 Get the basics right

So another quote from one of our American friends, a legend on the basketball court Michael Jordan:

and also from an ex-Australian cricket captain, Steve Waugh:

We often have to think about the next big project, the next big win, the next big innovation. But do we have the basics down to get there successfully? Are we worrying about the pretty and not about knocking off the single runs?

Teams who don’t feel they have the fundamental building blocks right will stumble when trying to move higher.

I just wanted to highlight 3 key points that I think, if we get right with our teams, we’ll be making leaps and bounds:

1. Problem solving – are we too quick to jump to the solution and solve the wrong problem? Do you have a method as a team for getting to the root of problems to plan the best course of action? Do you contact your peers in the group to see if they already have a tried and tested answer?
2. Structured Meetings – How many meetings do you attend without any clear agenda? Do you stick to timings when you call a meeting? Are you conversations efficient or do they regularly run away on tangents? Do you come prepared to meetings with your team? How often do you send clear minutes and follow up on action items?
3. Valuing your team’s time – Are you there when you say you’ll be there? When you’re in the room, are you in the room? Do you stay until the end of meetings? If not, do the team understand fully why? Do you follow up if necessary? Do you make sure you know when and where your team is going to be and encourage two way accommodation of diaries and priorities?

In life, it’s all about getting the basics right too. For example, whatever happens, make sure you are always wearing the right shoes for the occasion.