13May

When did you last give your best? When was the last time you gave ‘your best’ at something? I mean, your very best? What impact does this have on your leadership and the leadership of your team?
10 years ago (I know!) I posted an article following the video clip below regarding your best.  In the video, the coach pushes his player, and encourages him to go beyond what he thought was possible, inspiring not only himself but the rest of the team.
It got me thinking about two things:

? When was the last time you forced the best out of yourself?
? When was the last time that you asked for the ‘very best’ out of your team members?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sUKoKQlEC4

Have we forgotten to ask for the best and will accept ‘OK’, ‘near enough’ and ‘a pretty good effort’?
When I was truthful with myself and looked at the last couple of weeks, I can say that I have accepted good and perhaps even above average, but I haven’t given my best (in my opinion) very often recently. Others may not have noticed and rated performances as good and very good (which is pleasing!), the effort, preparation and execution have not been my best.

Consider your team at present.

? Are they giving you their best effort? If not, have you asked for it?

? What can you different today to give your best?

? Have you forgotten to ask for the best and will accept ‘OK’?

? Is ‘near enough’ and ‘a pretty good effort’ good enough for you right now?

When I thought about what I had achieved in the last couple of weeks (and when I was truthful with myself), I can say that I have accepted good and perhaps even above average, but I haven’t given my best (in my opinion) very often recently. In my facilitation and interactions with team members, ‘my best’ was delivered on some very specific occasions. While other people have rated performances as good and very good (which is pleasing!), the effort, preparation and execution have not been ‘my best’.

Consider your team at present. Are they giving you their best effort? If not, have you asked for it?

[This next part os from the original post 10 years ago, but I can still remember it like it was yesterday]

I was reminded on the weekend about good and best efforts from a 10-year old soccer team. I was fortunate to coach the team in the absence of their regular coach, and I asked them the question ‘Are you going to give me your best?’ Needless to say I didn’t get the reaction I hoped for until I elaborated. I told them very clearly what I thought their best effort would look like, how they would play and how they would treat each other on the pitch. I also told them, one by one, what their individual best effort would look like. I them asked for permission to tell them when they were playing their best, and advise them when they weren’t.

It was one of the most exciting games of soccer I have seen. The boys on that team gave their best effort, beating a two-year undefeated side 3-1 (after losing 3 months ago 6-2).

I would love to say the win was based on superior coaching and tactical skill, but that would be very far from the truth! The boys played so well because they were asked to give their best, and their efforts were recognised and reinforced. All I had to do was ask for it and gain permission to tell them if they were / weren’t delivering it.

? When was the last time you asked for the best from your team?

? Equally, when was the last time you did the best you could for your team? What is holding you back?

Ask for the best – you might be surprised by the results.

What can you different today to give your best?
#leadership #success #coaching #leadershipdevelopment #motivation #highperformanceteams #IMLD #developingleaders

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