The Flexible Approach

During their 1995 postseason run, the Houston Rockets won their second NBA championship by defeating the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic. Two quality teams that featured premier centres in David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal.

Both of them had been severely outplayed by Houston Rocket big man, Hakeem Olajuwon.

In a Life magazine story, Robinson seemed perplexed. "Solve Hakeem?" said Robinson. "You don't solve Hakeem."



O'Neal felt the same way after going down in a Finals sweep . "He's got about five moves, then four countermoves," said a stunned O'Neal. " That gives him 20 moves."

The most all around and successful players are those who consistently demonstrate flexibility in their actions.

They have several options and possess the ability to score in a variety of ways.

Being flexible is vital to achieving any form of success in today's challenging world.



Situations will constantly arise that impact the way we get things done but how we choose to respond to these changes is key.

Developing an ambidextrous mindset will allow you to view and approach problems in an entirely different manner.

You'll consider problems as opportunities to try new and different solutions.

Here are 4 points to keep in mind about flexibility:





1. Nothing is set in stone - People and circumstances can change at a moments notice;

2. Being flexible doesn't mean you're indecisive or unable to make up your mind;

3. Taking a rigid approach suggests that you are resistance to change;

4. You've got to consciously make the decision to be flexible until it becomes second nature.

THE MA!N POINT

Great leaders aspire to have mutually beneficial relationships with those they come in contact with. Demonstrating flexibility in your actions can help increase the number of quality relationships in your life.

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach."
Tom Robbins

Thanks for reading!

Audley

The Big Shot

There's nothing more exciting in basketball than winning a game on a last second shot.

While much attention is paid to the "shot" as being the difference maker, it's actually very rare that one solitary play determines the outcome of a game.



Rather, it's the events leading up to the buzzer beater are the culprits we should point our fingers at.

Look at it this way.

A squad is winning by a huge margin and the other team makes a furious surge in the 4th quarter and eventually wins on a game winning shot.

Was it the last shot that won the game or was it the steps leading up to it that mattered most?

Both are correct because they've contributed to help the team win. The reality is that the team wouldn't have been in a position to win if not for all the small things leading up to the "shot".



The pathway to our failures and successes are made up of a series of actions leading up until the final outcome.

A missed free throw in the 1st quarter or making a big defensive play are both examples of small things that can happen over the course of a game.

These contributing factors may seem insignificant at the time but they do make a difference, especially in a tightly contested game.

As leaders, it's important to pay attention to contributions from all sources and what role they play in the final outcome.



Understanding what the contributing factors are make the evaluation process much smoother to move through and thus set the team up for future successes.

Thanks for reading!

Audley

Mentoring takes commitment

Mentoring takes commitment

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The Greatest To Ever Play?

One of the classic debates that'll come up every so often in basketball circles is the question of who is the greatest to ever play?


It's a difficult one to answer because we've had the privilege of watching so many greats play the game.

Micheal Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and dazzled us with his jaw dropping aerial acrobatics.

Magic Johnson brought excitement to the fans of LA with his flashy no look passing ability and award winning smile.

Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal are all fine examples of what dominant low post play looks like.

Whether you're developing your skills on the court or as a leader, it's key to recognize what our individual skills are and that they count for something.




Here are three quick points to understanding leadership development.

POINT #1
Effective leadership has to be impactful. In other words, your actions must mean something to those around you. Leadership isn`t what you do for yourself, rather how you make a difference to others.

POINT #2
Not all leaders are built the same. Each of us have our own unique personality styles like players on a basketball court. While there could be similarities between individuals at the end of the day, they`re `still different.

POINT #3
There isn`t a specific mold one must follow.`It can be whatever you want it to be as long as the end result meets the condition of my first point. Is it impactful? Does it meet the basic rules of effective leadership?

IN CLOSING...

Taking the the time to understand what you bring to the table are critical to your developing leadership skills. Perhaps you're a good listener or maybe have a great sense of humour. Whatever it is, know that there is a place for them.




Thanks for reading!

Audley

Having a Basketball Philosophy

Coaches recognize the importance of having a basketball philosophy that embodies the team's style of play.

This philosophy provides the basis for how the team will move forward and eventually be that "thing" they become known for.



Maybe you've got a speedy squad on your hands that likes to push the ball up the floor as quickly as possible?

Or are they a slower systematic kind of team that flourishes in the half court set?

Perhaps, your team's calling card is their defensive grind it out style of play?

How do you decide which way to go?

A great starting point would be to conduct an evaluation of the team's skills and abilities. Having a good understanding of what their strengths are can help determine the style most suitable for them.



Conversely you'll also have an opportunity to determine the areas of improvement.

For example, if your team is made up of athletic players who can run the floor then perhaps playing at a quicker pace is the more logical choice.

Arriving on a style of play that makes sense for the team now allows a coach an opportunity to design strategies, organize practices and select other players that fit within this framework.

When it comes to evaluating your team as a leader, the same principles apply. This becomes increasingly important for cross functioning groups with a variety of skill sets.



Ideally, leaders want a productive, high functioning and efficient team to work with. The best way to achieve this is to put its individual members in situations where their skills can be fully maximized.

THE MAIN PO!NT

Determining your team philosophy can't happen without knowing who they are first.

"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible."

— Jonathan Swift

Thanks for reading!

Audley

An Inspiration Named Tessa

During the fall of 2007, I ran a weekly basketball skill development program with a group of volunteer coaches for approximately 40 elementary school aged girls.

The girls were a lot of fun and had a great time. The coaches and I did everything possible to make the experience beneficial from a skill development aspect in a fun atmosphere.

They were all great to work with and one of the more memorable players was 12 year old Tessa.

She was a fantastic player but it wasn't her skills on the court that stood out, rather it was her love for the game.

You could tell just by watching her how much she enjoyed playing basketball. But what was even more significant was the positive effects her good nature had on others.

She made it fun for everyone and she seemed to never stop smiling.



In January of 2008, Tessa started to experience severe headaches which later was discovered to be a brain tumour.

This was the starting point of a difficult battle for Tessa. However, she never stopped smiling and maintained her positive spirit throughout the chemotherapy treatments.

She was so much of an inspiration that the staff and students at her school, St. David of Wales held a Toonie for Tessa walk to raise more than $3,000 for their friend.

The doctors gave Tessa a short time to live after two unsuccessful surgeries to remove the tumour were performed.

Tessa's strong spirit bravely fought the cancer for two years battle before she sadly passed away on May 17, 2009 at the age of 14.

Tessa served as an inspiration to many and will be missed by family, friends and coaches.


Thanks for reading!

Audley

Leaving a Positive Legacy

Wayman Tisdale, a 12 year NBA veteran and jazz musician died at the age of 44 after a two-year battle with cancer.

Wayman was more than just a former NBAer who became an accomplished jazz musician after he retired. He was an inspiration to so many others as he battled a disease that eventually claimed his life.

Wayman never stopped smiling and maintained a positive attitude even after the doctors were forced to amputate his right leg in August 2008 to try and stem the cancer.

I had the honour and privilege of interviewing him on The NBA Breakdown in March of 2009.

Wayman said, “I’m getting through it and keeping a positive attitude about the whole situation.”

He also said, "People who make it through things like this are the positive people and that's what I want to be known as."

Wayman Tisdale left a legacy of a positive person despite the adversity he faced.

As we travel through this on this road called life, it's important to know that we can all be examples through the things we do.

In most cases, we never fully realize the impact of our positive actions on the lives of others or the residue it leaves behind.



Thanks for reading!

Audley