River City Basket Ball Camp, Quincy, Illinois
Every September 19th waves of nostalgia and remembrance are impossible for me to overcome. As anyone who has lost someone important in their lives, birthdays and holidays are vivid reminders of the unique traits of loved ones departed.
I’ve written previously on the many coaching skills my brother and I inherited from our father. This year I’m especially reminded of our father’s leadership and resilience skills. I see parallels for life in general as well as worksite wellness programs.
Leading with respect
Having a basketball coach father taught me early on real success is gained through respectful leadership. That regardless of the outcome garnering respect from participants, competitors and observers creates energy and builds community.
I’m not speaking about everyone gets a medal type of leadership, but of true honesty in dealing with diverse levels of performance. This leadership acknowledges certain players will have more talent than others. However, the whole team is spirited by the desire to contribute to the best of their abilities on a consistent basis.
Respectful leadership recognizes and appreciates individual contributions, which create team success. This appreciation is motivating and energizing. In worksite wellness lingo employees are “engaged.”
An “engaged employee” is one who is fully absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work and so takes positive action to further the organization’s reputation and interests.
Respectful leadership entails demonstrating commitments to the city or community where one lives and works. For example in the case of our father he had a summer camp for kids every year. River City Basketball Camp was a highlight for many individuals of all economic, social and racial backgrounds.
No child was ever turned away, no matter the talent level, lack of funds or other obstacle. This summer event united the city in the belief that strong teams were built from the ground up through the energy and discipline of young spirits guided by successful players and coaches.
Respectful leadership broadens as you verbally speak about the strong qualities of your competitors. In the example of our father, one of his team’s fiercest competitors resided in Galesburg, Illinois, coached at that time by John Thiel. The two teams, Quincy and Galesburg were infamous rivals.
That said, both coaches spoke highly of the opponent’s skill and leadership. Equally acknowledged the victor and praised players on all sides. Battles were hard fought, emotional rollercoasters but respect infiltrated the gymnasiums at all times.
Respect is earned through living and breathing good coaching skills. Consistency in training, discipline and performance is paramount. Practice physical and mental habits to support yourself and the team for life. Pay attention to each performer’s unique qualities and encourage self-efficacy. Build trust through walking the talk.
“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”
Coach John Wooden
Resilience tools
One of the definitions of resilience is “speedy recovery from problems.” During my professional dance career that was certainly a priority in life. The ability to bounce back both physically and mentally from injuries or setbacks was crucial to one’s career.
I grew up watching our father navigate the ups and downs of high school and college basketball. This included regular season games as well as high-powered championships. The word tenacious comes to mind. One has to develop mental skills and habits that enable the body to pick up after a defeat and move on.
It also requires building habits into daily life that allow you to preserve your energy, restore vitality and be ready for the next event. Our Dad mastered the art of the power nap; his favorite spot was the floor in his office at home. Also during his early years traveling by Greyhound bus he could easily close his eyes and shut down.
Resilience demands sticking to routines. Our father expected his players to practice day in and day out. He followed the same rules. Rain or shine he was out there on the track running and working out. Honing his own personal resilience rubbed off on others, not only team members but those in the community as well.
What’s this got to do with worksite wellness?
Over the last ten years I’ve seen an ever-increasing push in worksite wellness to be one huge personal and company data collecting system. Examples such as have employees track diet and exercise information, collect personal health data, gather biometric numbers, monitor personal health habits, require numerous online tests and courses demanding more hours at a computer.
At the same time employees are required to jump through more and more hoops there exists less engagement in the workplace. Currently according to Gallup polls only 30% of employees are engaged, thus 70% are NOT.
There exists (read the comment sections on wellness articles) an overwhelming sense of uselessness and apathy among participants. The aura is of one huge data dump of medical information and little of the makings of a successful team.
Has the push towards medical interventions and obsession with individual health risks taken us farther away from basic principles of a well functioning team? I acknowledge comparing sports to business has its’ risks. However, there are lessons to be learned and in my opinion applications to be drawn.
If I use our father’s success tools and relate them to wellness here’s my short list of “would love to see more of!”
- Build and practice honest communication skills throughout the company
- Develop and practice resilience skills, physically & mentally
- Hold practice sessions in skill building and reinforcement
- Create community projects that unite employees with adults or children
- Choose leaders who clearly demonstrate respect with consistency
- If you don’t walk the walk don’t lead
Final note
For me wellness in the workplace means being able to do your job to the best of your ability with all the means available. A coach does not put a player on the field without hours of practice and skill development. Neither should businesses.
If wellness is truly there to support the wellbeing of the employee give them the tools to succeed. Help promote work habits and skills that enable them to perform to the best of their ability. Hire leaders and managers capable of the rigorous demands that a successful coach aspires to.
In honor of my father, one heck of a role model for life!
The Coach’s Daughter
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
Coach John Wooden
RIP Coach. We feel your presence, guidance, wisdom as we look forward to worksite wellness, 2015 in Quincy.
Thank you Cindy for your kind words and all you do in Quincy, IL to promote health and wellbeing!
Well stated! The photo is nostalgic, but not merely for who’s in it. Look at the feet. Chuck Taylor All Stars? Coach Wooden probably wore the same shoes. And most of the NBA. When sports was still about sports – respectful leadership and resilience, among other values. And not so much about selling shoes and sportswear.
Thank you Reid for taking the time to comment. Excellent points and yes commercialism has changed the game in so many ways. It also has infiltrated worksite wellness in a similar fashion, unfortunately! THe push to “sell” does not always advance wellbeing whether in sport or the workplace.