Coaching and Leadership 101. Shut up and listen!

In polling several athletes from a variety of college and high school sports, it became crystal clear what coaching habits and styles motivated and empowered today's athletes. 

Here's what I found:

Players don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

Coaches who had high level listening skills when interacting with their players were held in high regard by all players. 

Coaches who demonstrated discipline in their own lives were more successful in teaching all levels of discipline to their players. 

Coaches that were able to keep their ego and "I" talk under control were more effective in developing team physics ( team chemistry plus coach accountability). 

Bottom line. Brilliance in the technical part of the game, by itself, doesn't win championships and doesn't develop a culture of success. 

We tell our players to goal set and take the mirror test each season.  It might be your time.