You’ve probably seen (or at least heard about) the video of Draymond Green punching Golden State teammate, Jordan Poole, during a practice last week. There are lots of opinions about what should or shouldn’t have happened to Draymond.
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Anytime something like this happens I always wonder how would you respond and what would you do in your position.
I travel all over and speak with coaches/ADs regularly. They always ask questions regarding discipline issues, responsibility, accountability, having good captains, dealing with challenging people, and building a strong culture. We walk through a lot of things, but nearly every situation they bring up could have been minimized or eliminated altogether if they had prepared for it and been proactive.
Right now, you know things that’ll surely happen this year. The only question is when, to whom, and how extreme it’ll be. There are also some things that may not happen but are always on the table (death in the family or on the team, drugs, legal issues, hazing, etc…).
How you do anything is how you do everything. If you want a great team, a strong culture, and people who do things right, then you’ve got to make it a priority. There will be issues, drama, or challenges this year. There will be metaphorical fires that break out in your locker room, team room, office, back of the bus, cafeteria, or hallways. Will you equip your team members with fire extinguishers or lighter fluid? Will they make things better or worse?
In fact, will you be equipped for the drama or issues that come your way? Are you ready for the fires that will pop up? Do you have a fire extinguisher or lighter fluid? Will you make things better or worse for both the short term and long term?
The coaches, administrators, and leaders who handle situations the best are normally the ones who have the best cultures. Anyone can steer a ship in calm water, but those ship captains who can navigate stormy waters, preserve the vessel, and protect the passengers are the most valuable. If leadership was so easy, anyone could do it and your school wouldn’t need you. So, how will you lead during times of crisis or challenges?
Here are just some of the questions to address before trouble comes your way or you have a challenging situation to deal with …
- Will you be blindsided by issues this year?
- Will you be consistent in how you respond to issues?
- Will you compromise based upon the individuals involved?
- Will you be situational or steadfast?
- Will you stick to the established protocols or go with your gut/heart?
- How will you handle the publicity?
- What are your core values? What’s your mission and purpose?
- Are you going to see the whole forest or just one tree?
- Who are the trusted advisors or mentors you can call upon?
- What can you do to prepare now? Can you “dig your well before you’re thirsty” or “fix your roof before it rains”?
Utilize news stories, role-play, and draw upon your past experiences to prepare yourself for what might come your way this season. Don’t bury your head in the sand and hope something doesn’t happen. Sure, you can’t prepare for every single circumstance that’s possible, but you can be ready for the most likely ones.
Yes, the Draymond Green punch may seem like it’s far removed from your situation, but there are still things we take away from how he, his teammates, his coaches, his team, and the media handle it. You can learn from every situation so that you can be better in your situations and be the leader you were meant to be.