Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

The Principal Coaching Clinic #24

Do you know how to talk to you players?

 Your school or organization is just like a team.  You know my affinity to sports analogies and metaphors.  Yes, Mr. or Ms. Principal, you are the Head Coach.  Now go out there and get your team to play in unison and win.  Of course, this is easier said than done. However, if you cannot relate to the players on an individual and personal basis, you will never come together as a team and win.  You must bring all of these distinct and sometimes difficult personalities together to think and play as one.  At the end of the day it is all about your communication skills.

You must know how each player will respond to you.  Which player can you chastise in front of the team and which player must be brought into your office for that private feedback session?  Screw this up and you will likely screw up the entire team.  If you err, it will hard to bring the team back.  In part, that is why coaches are usually looking for a new job every five years.  However, that is a story for another day.  Today’s message is all about communicating with your players.

This communicating process is a two-way street.  You must also listen to your players.  Not only do you need to know what motivates them, you must also learn what frustrates them.  What do you do that annoys them?  You must be reflective to learn and grow from your team. 

You really have to take the time to know each and every person associated with your team.  What is important to each player?  Once you discern this, your job will become easier.

A strong bond of trust must be established between you and your players.  (Remember, I am using players here to be interchangeable with your teachers.  This is not a sports blog; it is for the most part a principal leadership study.)

I would be remis if I did not include several Bill Parcells stories at this point.  Bill Parcells was a legendary football coach who was a master motivator.  Parcells rode his star quarterback, Phil Simms hard and in public.  His on-field criticism of his play was brutal.  He did this because he knew that he could take it and yes it motivated him.  It also sent a strong message to the rest of the team as Parcells was not afraid to rebuke his star.  For a different player, he could just say a magic word or two privately in the locker room or on a walk to the field and that would be all this player needed.  The players ultimately believed that Parcells could take them to the promised land., namely a Super Bowl victory. 

Early in his career Parcells established a leadership team of veteran players who would meet with him regularly to share the pulse of the team and what was on the players’ mind.  As tough and as abrasive as he could be, he learned to also listen.

As the leader, you must be able to walk with your arm around a player and figuratively “kick him in the butt” at the same time. 

I believe that players want coaches who are demanding.  Likewise, I believe that teachers want to work for a demanding and consistent principal. One who communicates with each person as an individual.  One who is never demeaning.  Let us take a moment to continue this string of my postulates.  Students want teachers who are also demanding.  Studies have shown that some students prefer a demanding teacher whereas others prefer an encouraging teacher.

 I am selfish.  I believe that coaches, principals, and teachers can be both demanding and encouraging.  I am convinced that I am right.  I want those people on my team!