Elevating Team Play: What Elite Coaches Say

Dateline San Antonio, April 2018. A question to coaches attending a Final Four leadership workshop:

Who is a catalyst for your team’s performance…and why?

This question for coaches and players alike was the basis for a discussion of catalytic leadership during an NABC seminar in San Antonio. Lee Dicklitch and Jerry Toomer were joined by Butler University Coach, Lavall Jordan as they brought to life an idea that was described by Michael Lewis in his 2009 New York Times article, “The No-Stats All-Star” that featured Shane Battier and his catalytic role with the Houston Rockets.

The Butler Bulldogs have successfully managed transitions of four coaches in six years. Is there a secret sauce? Perhaps. Or perhaps the “secret” is simply the effective implementation of The Butler Way coupled with the idea of recruiting highly skilled players who have a profound, elevating impact on their teammates…players who possess extraordinary catalytic skills and are committed to team success.

The hallmark of catalytic teamwork and leadership is unselfishly making others better and heightening the team’s ability to achieve results.

The specific question to coaches in the workshop was: “Who do you know who elevates the performance of others and the team, and what competencies or qualities do they possess”?

Responses were both enlightening and reinforcing!

We heard from 133 of the coaches in attendance that catalysts:

· Are comfortable in their own skin.

· Are great listeners; ask a lot of questions.

· Have great eye contact; listen with conviction.

· Find a way to do things instead of focusing on why you can’t.

· Have a professional appearance; appropriately well dressed.

· Talk with pace and clarity that draws you to them; sends extremely clear messages.

· Have amazing and abundant energy.

· Are calming in tense, chaotic situations.

· Always follow through on commitments.

· Are willing to do the dirty work, the little things.

· Exhibit a high level of curiosity; always open to learning.

· Embrace adversity. “Adversity is pure joy.”

· Others love being their teammate! Always positive and focused.

The above comments brought to life the characteristics and competencies that are key to team performance. As we mapped the attendee responses back to the 12 competencies described in The Catalyst Effect (Emerald Publishing, 2018), we found the following competencies to be most frequently mentioned:

· Invigorates with Optimism

· Connects Emotionally

· Puts Team Goals Ahead of Personal Interests

· Communicates Clearly

· Acts with Integrity and Inspires Trust

· Energizes Others

· Pursues Excellence

Some leaders, some players shine because they are effective team builders, rather than individual stars. They are catalysts who propel their teams to success. Which of these catalytic competencies do you personally bring to the conference room, the court/field, or the stage? How can you intentionally leverage those that are your strengths, while developing those which need a bit of work?

References

For a full description of the Four Cornerstones and 12 Competencies and examples of how they are applied in coaching, business and the arts, go to the website thecatalysteffect.org, or find the book on Amazon, The Catalyst Effect (Emerald Publishing, 2018)