Consistency
Have you ever wondered why some programs and teams are continually performing at an elite level, year in and year out, no matter what obstacles they may face? I have often had this thought myself. Why do some teams always seem to be fighting for a playoff spot?
THE ANSWER:
CULTURE. Culture is often times a term that is overused and undervalued. All great teams such as the New England Patriots, Golden State Warriors, and Alabama Football have one massive concept in common: amazing culture! These teams are built around relationships and teamwork, something that seems to be overlooked in the game of baseball today. Many athletes and coaches are so focused on the results side of the game that they forget the process that got them there in the first place!
Good Things Take Time
Culture is not an overnight fix… It takes time to develop an elite culture. “My goal has always been to help each player to establish a high standard of excellence for themselves and then commit to improving on a daily basis” says Johnson about how to start shifting the culture of a program. Players and coaches must commit to a daily standard of excellence in order to create the most positive atmosphere possible. Coach Jay Johnson has always used my favorite term; “Let’s get 1% better each day.” When I first heard this at the University of Nevada in the fall of my 2014 season, I sort of turned my shoulder. I did not understand exactly what he meant at the time, but I would soon find out. Developing an elite process takes commitment and courage. And what happens when we have an elite process? Athletes begin to trust their abilities and their preparation which leads to confidence.. Ultimately leading to peak performing athletes.
Leadership
All great leaders are impeccable communicators. Jay Johnson is one of the best in the world at communicating with his players. Communication leads to trust. When a player can trust that their coaches are going to put them in the best position to succeed, you begin to experience a culture shift and lots of success. There are two types of leadership styles: leading by example and leading by voice. The world’s greatest leaders pour everything they have into what they do. “If you are only focused on the end result, there can be so much failure that happens along the way that can lead to frustration, disappointment, and discouragement that can take you down a completely negative path where you forget why you are doing what you are doing in the first place” said Johnson when I asked him how he gets his teams to perform at the highest level consistently. Elite performers know exactly what it is that they want to accomplish, they know their end goal, and they develop a relentless plan of action to achieve that goal!
Embrace The Process
As a college athlete you have an amazing opportunity right in front of you. But sometimes we forget WHY we play the game and the path that has taken us to that point. “Make the joy of the game come from competition and the process” Johnson says when asked about how he keeps players focused in this day in age. So many times we hear ‘trust the process’ but what is the process? The process is the day to day routines and habits that we build as players and coaches. If we develop an elite process, odds are we are going to perform at a higher level more consistently. On the other hand, if the process is not benefiting us in a positive way, our performance on the field is going to suffer. An old manager of mine Shelly Duncan, former Major League Ballplayer and current coach for the Toronto Blue Jays once told me during spring training to “embrace the suck.” This stuck out to me personally because it’s not easy to stay mentally focused from pitch to pitch… through failure.. and through the ‘grind’ that often swallows athletes up into a black hole. But if we have a process that helps us sustain mental focus and confidence, our chances of succeeding are incrementally higher!
