Don’t Overlook The Good Stuff

One of the mistakes I made when I first became a head coach was that I took the positive stuff for granted. I was so focused on the mistakes, the changes we needed to make, and what we needed to do better. Whether it was about an individual player or the team, I was focused - like most coaches - on what needed to change.

I was always confident in our culture and our preparation, and that led to efficient practices where our players could perform at a high level. I expected them to do the good things. When somebody does a great job blocking out, dives on the floor for a loose ball or sprints back to deflect a pass in transition, that is what I expect to see. I would find myself only speaking up when something negative happened, so the what the players heard was usually intense and on the negative side. They were being corrected all the time, but rarely being praised.

I had to learn as a head coach to recognize and emphasize the positive. Research on what motivates people says one of the best things you can do is be a fan, to constantly show them that you believe in and enjoy what they do. When I was constantly correcting mistakes and focusing only on what needed to change, I wasn’t doing that.

I also had to learn to recognize the low-maintenance players who always did the right things. Those were players I often overlooked. I didn’t appreciate what they did every day, I just came to expect it. And because of that, I’m sure my players felt they only heard from me when something wasn’t right.

Don’t forget to recognize the positive stuff that you see every day. Make sure your players know you appreciate the basic good stuff they do every day. I know you have a lot to correct and the mistakes need to change. But make sure your players are appreciated for the positive stuff they do everyday.