Winning Teams Have Effective Core Leadership

article posted: 204 days ago

I was again reminded of this fact while working with three teams in Europe over the past month. It was clear that the level of core leadership on each team directly correlated with that team’s success.

Before my trip, I discussed this very point with team leaders at an Own The Podium Conference in preparation for Team Canada’s participation in the 2012 Olympics. I reminded them of that, while coaches and executives select talent and create a game plan, that’s clearly not enough. Some members of the rank and file (whether it’s a player on the bench, or a member of the management or sales team) must step up and lead their teammates by example.

Working with teams is always a fascinating learning experience. One of the major challenges of establishing core leadership on a team is inspiring the would-be leaders to exercise their “response-ability,” embrace the challenge, and model team-first behavior. This creates a success culture, one where talented people are excited and committed to performing at the highest level… and encouraging those around them to do so as well.

One winning NHL coach once said, “a team can win with a good coach and even in spite of a weak coach… however you need that core group of guys in the room to make it happen.”

More on the subject in Dr. Miller’s book, Why Teams Win: 9 Keys to Success in Business and Sport

Playing it Smart

article posted: 255 days ago

The recent deaths of three relatively young NHL veterans in the past four months brings to mind the need to encourage people who have emotional problems to come forward and seek help. It’s been said that 8-10 percent of the general public suffer from mood disorders at some time in their lives. The numbers may be less for elite athletes because of all the screens they have to pass through to succeed at the highest levels. The more vulnerable personalities are often screened out while the more robust personalities survive.  However, pro athletes have to deal with an ongoing pressure to perform and some do have emotional issues that could benefit from therapy.

All the teams I have worked with in the NFL, NHL, major league baseball all have excellent medical resources available to treat players. The NHLPA also has counseling and substance abuse programs available. However players must come forward and ask for help. We know men are less inclined then women to seek help for emotional issues, and pro athletes are even less inclined then most men to express a need for therapy. It’s part of the “macho” mindset that exists in elite sport. And for fringe players, those who are not stars, and those on the last year of a contract there is even more reluctance to come forward. However, therapy works in most cases. One player I worked with sought psychiatric help for a mood disorder got treatment and went on to be a league all star.

So the message is, be smart not macho, if you have a problem step forward, seek help, and then get back to performing well and enjoying the game.

Dr. Saul Miller is the author of Performing Under Pressure, Hockey Toughand Why Teams Win.  

Headshots, Concussions, and the Game

article posted: 403 days ago

Something is happening. There seems to be an epidemic of concussions across all contact sports… especially hockey. I’ve been a sport psychologist for over three decades and have worked with approximately 30 different sports and I can’t recall concussions being anything like the issue it is today. 


 

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