Tim Tebow's Leadership--Motivating Others

From Tim Tebow--
"But whether you are talking about being a coach or being a player--the thing that's hard is leadership. In the past, I have worked at casting a vision and modeling appropriate behavior, but this season, I was faced with the challenge of getting through to guys who were wired differently than I was. I had to keep finding new ways to motivate others."

Phil Jackson's 5 Management & Motivation Secrets

1. KNOW WHEN TO STEP BACK AND LET PEOPLE FIND THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS.
--As a leader, you must know when not to act.
--Allow them to resolve a crisis and affirm their common goals

2. PUSH PEOPLE TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE.
--There are no textbook answers in basketball or life.
--Every game is a riddle that must be solved.
--Michael Jordan calls it "Think Power"--the ability to work collectively and harmoniously under pressure. People must think on their feet and for themselves.

3. ACCEPT SETBACKS AS STEPPING-STONES TO GREATER SUCCESS
--Don't dance away from reality but make it your teacher.
--Losing is a lens through which you can see yourself more clearly and experience the transient nature of life--the fact that all things change, grow, decay and regenerate.

4. WHEN THE POTENTIAL REWARD IS GREAT, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE LIMITED RISKS
--Let individuals be themselves. The bottom line is whether they work hard and produce for the team.

5. CULTIVATE AWARENESS AS THE KEY INGREDIENT TO SUCCESS
--Talent alone cannot guarantee victory.
--Groups function best when everyone is in tune with what is happening around them, when each member strives to fit into the flow.

Dealing With Procrasitnation

What is procrastination and why do we do it?
Procrastination is self-doubt
Procrastination is self-punishment
Procrastination is escapism, self-made
Most of all, procrastination is a habit.
Putting things off can be incredibly seductive.
Procrastination is one common result of conflicting needs.

Temporary advantages of procrastination:
Satisfies the need to escape (like any addiction)
Maintains the status quo—avoid new responsibilities
Reduces time on unpleasant projects
Lets us retain a sense of control

How do we stop?
1.) Take Care of Yourself
Self-critical people suffer a basic syndrome: poor concentration, erratic work performance, procrastination.
Can’t complete a difficult project if you’re physically and mentally exhausted.
Keep fit; improve lifestyle.

2.) Develop a Different State of Mind
Learn to accept change and risk
Believe you can and will change

3.) Break a Bad Habit With a Good Habit
Change requires action
You’ve got to act different to be different
Insight and understanding change nothing
Put out rather than put off.

8 Words To Live By

Eight Words To Live By
Earl Nightingale


Honesty—It means honesty in everything we do or say; honesty as a way of life.

Workmanship—It means doing a job as well as we can do it without become obsessed with it. It’s saying, “Everything I do I will do to the best of my ability.”

Ambition—It means striving toward something we believe to be worthwhile.

Faith—It makes everything work, and faith in ourselves and what we believe in is the driving power of our ambition.

Education—The better our education - the broader, the more comprehensive our knowledge - the better, the richer, the more interesting our lives become.

Charity—It’s more than giving...it’s an attitude; it’s understanding that the more we share, the more we get. The more we help and lift up others, the more we are helped and lifted up ourselves.

Courage—It turns darkness into bright daylight; problems into possibilities.

Responsibility—For others and our lives.

Don't Take Possesion Of Negatives In Our Lives

I am fortunate enough to teach a Bible Class on Sunday mornings at our church here in Orlando. During our discussion yesterday a cancer survivor passed this along. She said that she has studied a lot about how God has wired us and how we think, and the remarkable ways in which our minds work. She said that as she has battled the tough situations in her life she has worked to maintain a positive approach to everything. She said that she has learned not to take possession of those negatives. While she may have cancer in her body, it is not hers. While there may be negative thoughts going through her mind, they are not her negative thoughts. I haven't done justice to how she delivered that to us in class, I hope that the message gets across.

Bob Ladouceur On Motivating Teenagers

Bob Ladouceur spoke at the 2002 Schutt National High School Coach of the Year banquet, an award that he won. Here are a few of his thoughts that can apply to all of us--coaches, parents, teens....on motivation.

1. Discovered that as his age increases, his IQ decreases. The older I get the more I realize how little I know--this is OK, it's the first step of self-awareness.
2. Teenagers need trustworthy adults in their lives to help guide them--other than their parents.
3. Remember Father Flannigan from Boy's Town--He said, "There's no such thing as a bad kid." I believe he was right. There is no such thing as a bad kid, but there are kids who make bad choices, choose bad behavior and sometimes are the victims of bad parenting.
4. Teenagers are not lazy. When they have no direction, no passion or goals then the symptom is lack of motivation.
5. Whatever we (as adults) want and need--Teenagers want and need also.
6. Teenagers pay more attention to the messenger than they do the message. So if you are the messenger then live the message.
7. Believe in a higher power. Personally, I am not smart enough or good enough to shepherd myself through life's journey. And what I found out is that journey is not an outward journey but completely and absolutely an inward journey.
8. Everybody wants to be a success. I've never heard anyone say I want to be a failure. One person may have one idea of success, another person may have another idea of success may be. We measure our success by how well we have embraced the spirit and essence of those intangibles. Success to us is understanding that where preparation meets opportunity--greatness can be achieved. Preparation for us is long, tedious and difficult and the windows of opportunity are brief, short and intense. I know for a fact that nobody--at least our opponents--outwork us. We prepare well, and when ready, we welcome, not fear our opportunities. Hard work is the cornerstone upon which all achievement emanates.

Jerry Krause--Top 10 Ways To Inspire & Motivate Myself & Others

The following list is from assistant coach Jerry Krause, Gonzaga University, who has authored 24 books on coaching basketball, produced 30 instructional videos and serves as a consultant to many athletic organization. Coach Krause's list is applicable to not only coaching, but any leadership role.

As a staff, this summer, we are concentrating on developing our leadership skills in order to develop the leadership of our team in 2009-10.

1. Read for inspiration and information

• "All readers are not leaders, but all leaders are readers."
• Need a reading List

2. Listen and learn

• "You are green and growing or ripe and rotten."
• Hear and listen, take notes for success.

3. Challenge others

• Careful and caring confrontation
• Honor Code—don’t lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those that do

4. Communicate better

• What you say and how you say it
• Speak, listen, read and write

5. Tell Stories

• " Facts tell, stories sell"
• Deep bag of tricks (methods)

6. Share experience (gained from life)

• "Know self, develop talents and serve others"
• Share successes, failures, wisdom

7. Become inspired yourself

• "Enthusiasm is caught and taught"
• People, ideas and knowledge

8. Encourage others

• "Tough times never last, tough people do"--Schuller
• Control attitude, action, reactions

9. Care for others

• "They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care"
• Serve others, be a servant leader (when you feel insignificant, serve others)

10. Model and Mentor

• 24/7--"Say what you do and do what you say.. be a person of integrity"They watch more than they listen to you"
• Greatest gift you can give
• Who are the mentors?

John Schuerholz On Building A Winning Organization

Atlanta Braves GM, John Schuerholz, in his book, "Built To Win" discusses the tasks of building a winning team, company or organization--as follows:

1. Create a new vision.

2. Establish organizational goals.

3. Develop a roadmap, or game plan, for success.

4. Inspire the staff.

5. Provide the leadership.

In the book, he says he came to Atlanta and had to somehow get rid of the losing mentality that the organization suffered from. First he had to defeat and eradicate apathy. Then next thing, he said he had to be able to convince people that they had the ability within themselves, individually and as a group, to be better and to achieve more.

Winners make commitments, losers make excuses. That was the theme and principal theory he utilized throughout the transformation. He had to create an environment in which new and higher goals were set, expectations raised, and, of course, the necessary work ethic and commitment were put into place.