In this book, learn how to create a playbook to retrain your focus on the behavior that wins, not just the sport-specific execution.
“The changing power dynamics in modern athletics requires winning influence over forcing control. The great leaders I’ve observed are ahead of the curve and attract people toward a high standard. This book includes ideas on how to take your leadership to the next level and find healthy, sustainable success.” – Rob Mullens, Athletic Director, Oregon
“I’m fascinated with coaches that can perform in the storm without losing the big picture. It seems like the only way that happens is to have a game plan. The concepts in this book will help get you started on developing yours.” – Chris Petersen, Formerly Washington/Boise State Football
A coach shared with me what he felt drove his success. He said, “I feel like I’ve learned how to control my team in order to suppress other teams.” That’s a dark space to live in. Especially when that approach has been positively reinforced by so many wins and a celebrated Hall-of-Fame career. It can leave you asking a lot of questions about life.
Many coaches that I’ve observed have leveraged highly controlled environments to produce the consistent behavior necessary to win at a high level. But nobody really feels good about it. That’s why it took me so long to write this book. I didn’t want to study how people used their power to force control. I wanted to write a different book. Once I understood how to do that, I decided to take this journey.
I asked a successful coach, “What’s the best way to change undesired behavior?” He laughed, “The best? Or the fastest?” When there are clear power dynamics, you can use a set of tactics that work on a short-term basis to produce results. But if you choose that approach, that’s a miserable way to spend your time on Earth. It’s a hollow path toward empty W’s.
That’s why I love the NBA. That environment requires a higher form of management. If you strip the coach of his power, he has to rely on logic, listening, and learning how to meet people where they are. That job becomes about winning influence. The respect is earned, not given, in that league.
I think about the coaches who clearly have power over their team, but choose to win influence instead. That rare group is motivated to find their next level as leaders. Their example influences people to discover their best.
That’s why I love the NBA. That environment requires a higher form of management. If you strip the coach of his power, he has to rely on logic, listening, and learning how to meet people where they are. That job becomes about winning influence. The respect is earned, not given, in that league.
– Brett Ledbetter
Note from the Author:
Have you been on a team where you spend so much time together but don’t know what’s actually happening in the backdrop of your teammates’ lives? Have you become an expert at avoiding things you don’t want to confront within yourself and with others? What happens when you get people to talk about what they’ve never talked about before in highly competitive environments?
Two things we’ve seen: first, people immediately feel like they’re not alone because almost always others in the room can relate, which usually turns out to be surprising for both parties. Second, everybody is going through something. When people share what’s actually happening in their lives, often the reaction from the room is, “How did I not know that about you? I had no idea.” When you understand more, you connect better.
And that’s what this book is designed to help you do. We’ve created 365 thought-provoking questions to unlock clarity for you and connection within your team by taking you beyond the surface level on the path toward self-awareness.
