Success Advice

5 Characteristics of Athletes You Need for Business Success

Published

2 years ago

Jul 29, 2021

Image Credit: Unsplash

Michigan State basketball coach, Tom Izzo, wrote “Players play. Tough players win.” I would add to that, “It’s tough to win.”I think if you, as a leader, are looking to build an organization that is successful – that wins – you first have to accept that it will be tough. There are no shortcuts to success. In my 44 years of coaching, I was fortunate to coach a lot of tough players. I believe the toughness I have seen in athletes corresponds well to any organization or business.

Athletic toughness encompasses the following five characteristics.

1. Work

Tough players work at practice. When they tie up their shoes and step across that line for practice, they are ready to work. They take no part of practice off and work hard at every drill which leads to their not taking a play off in games. Is it not the same in business? When you open that door for work, be ready to roll up your sleeves and go to work.

2. Habit

Tough-minded players are the same every day and toughness is one of their habits. They don’t need to be motivated because they are self-motivated. They know no other way to approach practices but to go all-out. Their toughness and willingness to work hard consistently is their calling card and they become an ingrained habit.

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

3. Ethics Matter

They play hard but never dirty. In athletics we know the difference between tough players and dirty players. Tough players play within the rules; dirty players try to intimidate opponents by doing things outside the rules – things that have no part in the game. We all respect tough players but feel that dirty players don’t belong in the game. We have seen some businesses play outside the rules and have watched their demise.

4. Do the Little Things

Tough players do things that don’t appear in the statistics, but leads to wins. They get deflections on defense, they get loose balls, and they take charges. People in the stands may not be aware of all the things they do to help their team win, but their teammates and coaches know how instrumental their work is to winning. Coach Wooden used to say, “If you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves.” Are not the little things important in all organizations?

5. Study

They know the game plans because they take the time to study them. This is no different from being a good student. It is tough to spend all the time being successful in the classroom. Is this not the same in business? If I am to promote the business I work for, I must take the time to study why our business serves the needs of our clients better than all of our competitors.

It is tough to win in any venture and tough people definitely put your organization in the best place to earn the win. The combination of these 5 key characteristics is the blend of toughness that is needed to compete and win in today’s environment.

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Pat Sullivan

Pat Sullivan was a successful coach, teacher, and administrator in the Chicago area for 44 years – 10 years at the high school level and 34 at the collegiate level. His basketball teams won 602 games; he was named Coach-of-the-Year 11 times; and he has been inducted into 8 Halls of Fame. He has received Lifetime Achievement awards from Lewis University, the Joliet, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Pat has offered basketball clinics and camps in Austria, Ireland, Belgium, and Greece and has spoken at clinics throughout America for the USA Coaches Clinics. He has also spoken to business executives from IBM, Accenture, and Sun Microsystems, as well as the University of Notre Dame’s Play Like A Champion conference. He is the author of Attitude-The Cornerstone of Leadership and Team-Building: From the Bench to the Boardroom.

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Success Advice

20 Ways You Can Become a Powerful Communicator

Published

6 days ago

Jan 25, 2023

Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

Some people seem to naturally know how to effectively communicate in a group setting. They can express themselves clearly and listen attentively without dominating the conversation.

Being a powerful communicator is important for several reasons, including building and maintaining relationships, achieving goals, resolving conflicts, improving productivity, leading and influencing others, advancing in your career, expressing yourself more confidently and authentically, and improving your mental and emotional well-being. Effective communication is an essential life skill that can benefit you in all aspects of your life.

But, don’t worry if you don’t naturally possess this skill, as effective communication is something that can be developed with practice, planning and preparation.

1. Listen actively: Practice active listening by giving your full attention to the speaker and responding to what they are saying.

2. Use “I” statements: Speak from your own perspective and avoid placing blame or making accusations.

3. Avoid assumptions: Don’t make assumptions about what the other person is thinking or feeling.

4. Be clear: Express your thoughts and feelings clearly and concisely by getting to the point and avoid using jargon or overly complex language.

5. Show empathy: Show that you understand and care about the other person’s feelings.

6. Offer valuable insights: When speaking in a group, provide a valuable takeaway or actionable item that people can walk away with.

7. Be an active listener: Listen attentively and respond accordingly, incorporating your points into the conversation.

8. Choose the right time: Pick the most opportune time to speak to ensure that you have the group’s attention and can deliver your message without interruption.

9. Be the unifying voice: Step in and unify the group’s thoughts to calm down the discussion and insert your point effectively.

10. Keep responses concise: Keep responses short and to the point to show respect for others’ time.

11. Avoid unnecessary comments: Avoid commenting on everything and only speak when you have something important to say.

12. Cut the fluff: Avoid being long-winded and get straight to the point.

13. Prepare ahead of time: Sort out your points and practice them before speaking in a group.

14. Smile and be positive: Smile and nod along as others speak, to build a positive relationship and be respected when it’s your turn to speak.

15. Take responsibility: Take responsibility for your own actions and feelings.

16. Ask questions: Ask questions to clarify any confusion or misunderstandings.

17. Avoid interrupting: Allow the other person to finish speaking without interruption.

18. Practice active listening: Repeat what the other person said to ensure you have understood correctly.

19. Use your body language too: Use nonverbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, and body language to convey your message and build rapport.

20. Be aware of the tone of your voice: it should be calm and assertive, not aggressive or passive.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can improve your communication skills and become a more powerful communicator, which can help you build better relationships, achieve your goals, and lead a more fulfilling life.

I you want to learn how to become more confident in life then you can join my weekly mentorship calls and 40+ online workshops at AweBliss.com so you can master your life with more success.

Success Advice

Dead Men Tell No Tales: How to Navigate a Mutiny as a Leader in 10 Steps

You’re the manager. You’re the supervisor. You’re the leader. But maybe your people don’t see it that way

Published

1 week ago

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Brian Parsons

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You’re the manager. You’re the supervisor. You’re the leader. But maybe your people don’t see it that way and perhaps that has created a divisive and adversarial working environment that makes it difficult for you to influence and inspire your team in a way that meets your vision. (more…)

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How to Think Like a CEO for Your Future Success

A blueprint for CEOs to draw a disciplined strategy

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2 weeks ago

Jan 18, 2023

M.S. Rao

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Strategic thinking helps CEOs build successful businesses. It helps them establish everlasting enterprises. It is one of the key elements of decision-making. It is different from strategic leadership. It differentiates between leaders from managers. (more…)

Success Advice

How to Focus Your Mind on Your Goals in 2023 Constructively

In this world of distractions due to information overload, it has become a big challenge to focus our minds

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2 weeks ago

Jan 16, 2023

M.S. Rao

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In this world of distractions due to information overload, it has become a big challenge to focus our minds on positive aspects and constructive activities. Sometimes we waste our precious time mentally and physically due to distractions arising out of technology. We must understand our priorities and learn how to focus on them religiously. (more…)