No Fear of Failure Chalk Talk

(Click on the image to watch Chalk Talk Video Clip)

[00:00:00] Dane: So you're making all those little, um, remarks in your mind about how you can actually build on that thing that you just screwed up on, or messed up on, or didn't, made a mistake, weren't successful at, right? If we're negative and judgmental about ourselves, we can't grow. In any sport, even in other things in life, like your schoolwork.

[00:00:22] Dane: So you have to give yourself room to move and feel free in failure, right? If we fail once, we might do that skill for a kip a hundred times. We miss it every time. Finally on 101, boom, we got it! Right? That's the exciting part. We know we're going to eventually get it.

Trike On!

Coach Dane

 

As Leaders, do we CARE enough to overcome our fears?

In one of my recent Mastermind Groups on Leadership (21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by Dr.John C. Maxwell), my sister and I discussed why "caring" is such an important part of a leader showing respect, developing rapport and building relationships with other people that we touch in our lives:  family, friends, colleagues, co-workers, etc.  That same day, I ran across a Facebook post by someone that has demonstrated he cared for me when I needed a friend in time of need.

That friend and also one of my mentors and colleagues was Lee Ellis (Leadership Freedom & Hanoi Hilton POW:  www.leadershipfreedom.com).  He wrote a Facebook post recently on a very short and powerful video that challenges us as leaders to grow and overcome our fears.

Lee's post said:  "In this short clip, during the night a mother comes downstairs to check on her two children. She never forgot what she saw at that moment. An unusual example of courageous leadership."

Take the time to watch the video.  

Here is the video link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PUVyixT6F0

It is noteworthy to recognize that "Care" or "Caring" is one of the 6 pillars of Character Counts:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.  (www.charactercounts.org)

Do we (you and I), as leaders, care enough to overcome our fears and choose to "Do the Right Thing."

Please watch the video and share your comments - maybe you can even let me know how you have overcome one of your fears because you cared more than the fear itself.  

Be courageous and take the time and effort to care!

Remember, keep "Leading with Character First."

Sportsmanship by Action?

Today we coached one of our gymnasts in a regional competition. She performed very well, and she did an amazing job in performing. 

What was even more amazing than her performance was not something as visible as the routines she performed at each event but the fact that I observed two coaches demonstrating their character in sportsmanship. I am not sure they even realized that I or anyone else noticed their character shining through their coaching. 

I have always been an advocate of “Leading with Character First.” 

Here we were in the middle of a very important regional gymnastics meet and both coaches had their values, ethics, and character tested. 

In one coach’s actions, she showed genuine and authentic care and support for her gymnast who despite almost a perfect warm-up before the competition, completely fell apart while performing for the judges. When this gymnast completed her bar routine, after falling twice and missing several skills, the coach threw her arms wide open and just “hugged” her gymnast in support for her. What a great move! That coach demonstrated the most authentic and genuine care for her gymnast that I have ever seen….one can tell if someone really means it when they care, can’t they? It is really refreshing. The coach could have communicated what the errors were, she could have been embarrassed at her performance, she could have been angry, she could have been disappointed even, there are just so many things the coach could have done or said, but she didn’t. That coach showed great form herself. I am sure her gymnast will remember her coach's performance for a lot longer than she remembers her score or her own performance. I was so impressed that I went up to the coach after the meet was completed and told her I really respected her and her coaching….she had done a great job of mentoring and coaching her gymnast for life, not just gymnastics. WOW! We need more coaches like her. 

The second instance was more of a demonstration of solid ethics and values by another coach who
helped me grow both as a person and a coach. Again, I am sure it didn't even occur to him that those around him may be watching his actions…but, they spoke louder than anything else in that gym at that time. In this case, this coach’s gymnast had already finished warming up, and for whatever reason, the gymnast thought that the judge had saluted her and she began her routine. In the sport of gymnastics, if you start before the judge salutes there is a significant penalty. So, after she performed her routine and the coach realized that the judges had not been judging, he had to make a decision. Was he going to inform the judges that in fact this gymnast was not still warming up, but had completed her routine? He had to decide whether he would make the head judge aware of that fact. Without any hesitation, this coach walked over to the judges table and informed the judge of his gymnast’s mistake. The judge made a decision and then had the gymnast perform again…most likely with some deduction in her score based on her starting before judge had acknowledged her. Now, this may seem trivial, but this was a clear example of actions speaking louder than words…and this coach’s actions spoke volumes. He knew they would most likely not catch the fact that she had performed, they just thought she was the last one warming up. So, he did the right thing….at the right time…in the right way. 

Having been mentored by him over the years, and having watched him over all those years coach all the kids he has, I was very proud to say he is my friend, colleague, and fellow coach. 

I walked over to him and praised him for his choice to “act with character.” 3 CHEERS for this Coach!

Leading with Character takes courage and values…both coaches demonstrated those characteristics. 

We need to Remember to Lead with Character First. Character does count….others may be watching!

Trike On!