Here’s your Wednesday’s Coaching Compass.
Principle: Alignment Over Agreement
In competitive sport, oftentimes we skip straight to training sessions. We don’t believe we have the time for culture and alignment and believe all of our solutions can be found on the strategic, tactical and technical aspects.
Agreement is about comfort, everyone nodding at the same time. Alignment is about clarity, everyone pulling in the same direction, even when it’s hard.
Alignment shows up in how we handle conflict, how we make decisions, and how we define success. It’s what allows tension to be productive instead of corrosive.
Perspective: Common Vision
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
Andrew Carnegie
Story: 2018 Springboks
“Rassie” Erasmus was the head coach and Director of Rugby for the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team. He joined a team in disarray and in need of a reset with an important World Cup looming. Instead of focusing on on-field work, he focused on alignment. Instead of a training camp, he led his new team through an alignment camp.
“Alignment means getting everyone on the same page. Do you believe what I believe? Do you see what I see? Do you see where we’re going? Do you know what we’re trying to do? Do you want to be part of this? Do you have another opinion? In the alignment camp, everyone has the chance to voice their opinion. From there we establish our plan, and then we ask, ‘Do we all still agree?’”
Question:
Have you taken the time to align your team? Is everyone rowing in the same direction?
Until next week,
Caleb Cousens
Founder of Adamas Esports