College Athletes and Motivation

[Sam A. Blitz]

Motivation is important. I think most of us have experienced the nerves of leaving home and starting college in a new setting. It is an uneasy and for some an even unstable feeling. You can multiply that feeling for college athletes. Coming in not knowing where you stand, what you you are supposed to do, where you need to be, all the while with having to deal with the pressure of living up to enormous expectations and being tasked with a lot of responsibility is very daunting. That is where good leadership and a stable culture become greatly important. I think speeches and intensity by coaches is great, but its more important for them to create structure that promotes structure, clear expectations, and a plan that helps players develop to their potential. The product of that is confidence and elevates your ability. Coaches that prepare their players and instill confidence in them to accomplish what is expected of them is more effective than any inspirational speech. Coaches have different styles. Some approaches work for some players and not for others. Leadership by players on the team is also crucial.

 

[UMGriz75]

A notable theme among current and departing players at UM.

If Nick Saban could share just one thing about successful leadership, what would it be?

Without pausing, he said, “Caring. People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.”

There’s a risk that you may dismiss that as a simple slogan, but successful leadership always starts with caring about your people. What does that mean in practice? Perhaps it’s taking the time to get to know them better, or making the effort to have each employee feel like part of the team.

Certainly it’s being responsive to requests associated with the quality of their tools, working environment and training needs. It also includes applying discipline and saying “no” to requests that are not good for the employee or the company.

Did Coach Saban’s simple gesture eight years ago turn me into a cheerleader for him? Maybe a little, but how could I not be impacted? Great leaders are men and women of character on and off the field, so it’s not surprising to me that the man who made the sacrifice to come to Steve Belichick’s funeral also led his teams to three national championships in four years (and four titles total).

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/08/are-you-impressing-people-or-impacting.html

 

[UMGriz75]

I won't accept anything less than the best a player's capable of doing... and he has the right to expect the best that I can do for him and the team! -- Lou Holtz