Not sure I agree. Majerus was very pragmatic in his approach. I could just as easily see him thinking that some levity might be productive in that case. Really what does moaning and sulking do after a loss anyway? And if you find it inappropriate to laugh in that situation, and you’ve made that known, then you’ve already lost the team, so what is the point.
I’ve changed my thinking on stuff like this a huge amount in the last 3 years after watching how different high school coaches and college coaches handle their teams. And I compare that to a bunch of work training I do, and new information I’ve been seeing about positive coaching styles. I’ve come to the conclusion that negative reinforcement is both short term and a net energy suck, while positive reinforcement sticks and is an energy builder. So if you want your team, whether work or sports, to gain energy and develop in a positive direction, then build them up with compliments, and teach them to build each other up with compliments. I say ‘teach’ because there is a right way and wrong way to do it, if you do it right it’s pretty damn effective.
So to the bus example, when he chewed them out, all he did was make them feel bad and perhaps a little resentful. Hell, they just lost to Oregon State, how much worse can he really make them feel, and what do you accomplish?? His assumption is that they don’t care, but he doesn’t allow for the possibility that it’s a defense or coping mechanism. What he might have done is compliment their mental toughness that even after a really bad loss like that, they are trying to pick each other up with some humor. Tell them that OSU is over, no amount of sulking will change that, and there isn’t much season left, so they have to stay positive and pull together to cross the finish line. Relax, come to practice next week refocused and ready to look in the mirror and fix what needs to be fixed.
Now that is some leadership they can get behind.
.
Loading ...
