Leading With The Heart

Leading With The Heart

I. Preseason

Ch. 1: Getting Organized

Establish right away in the first meeting the only rule for the team: “Don’t do anything that’s detrimental to yourself. Because if it’s detrimental to you, it’ll be detrimental to our program...” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.4). Don’t dwell on it, so it does not ruin the

moment.

Recruit individuals who want to be part of a team and who are cacheable.

Use plural pronouns from the very first meeting on. Use the words “our” instead of “my,” “we” instead of “I,” and “us” instead of “me.” Leadership on a team is plural, not singular.

Make sure you are not the only one speaking in meetings, especially the first one, to demonstrate the principal of “we’re all important” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.7). Include players, assistants, trainers, and team managers.

Time Management

During the first meeting, hand out notebooks and pocket calendars with important dates

listed, such as practice times, special events, and game schedule. “Teach time management, not only as it relates to individuals, but as it pertains to a group” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.18).

Academics

Remind athletes to tell professors of their schedules, when they will be missing class,

and their plans on what to do for getting the materials they missed.

Encourage the athletes to get the total university life experience. That is why there are

no athletic dorms, so there is no separation between the athletes and student body.

Stress the honor in academics and all things.

Rules

The rule “don’t do anything detrimental to yourself” covers a wide variety of things.

Establishing too many rules gets in the way of leadership. “Don’t be a team of ‘I

got’chas” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.10). Leadership is “ongoing, adjustable, flexible and dynamic,” and so it allows the leader to have discretion. No “hard and fast rule” gives the leader the flexibility in different situations and provides the “latitude to lead” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.11).

Support System

“Set up a family support system for your team. It’s like getting a shot to keep away

jealousy” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.12).

Distribute laminated cards to each individual with the phone numbers of staff and fellow

players. Remind them to call somebody when they’re in harms way.

A Handshake Deal

Make handshake deals with players during the recruiting process, and tell them of the

“fair but not equal” policy, which means be “fair” in everything that you do, but players