Through our first three parts of this Pathway Series, we have talked about the vulnerabilities to admitting when we are lost, the importance of locating where we are and having the courage to ask for directions. Once we have completed those steps, it is finally time to head home. In terms of our program, it is taking what we have learned on our journey and putting the pieces of the puzzle together. This means that not only do we have to stay the course and find our way home but it is also being more confident in that path and not getting distracted or losing our way again. We become more confident in ourselves, our path, that we don’t worry so much about all the distractions surrounding us. We keep our eyes on the road, our vision is narrowed, and all the noises from the back seat of the (he hit me, he’s on my side, he stole my food, etc) does not deter or distract us from the mission. After all, we can’t stop, pull over and turn the car around now, we’ve come too far!
A major piece of this alignment is within our messaging. The language we use, the terms themselves, the feedback voice and the types of feedback language we use (be on the lookout for more info here!), our body language and the volumes that it speaks, the types of communication, the frequency, quality, etc all matter in creating and maintaining a healthy, homeostatic culture. This is about what we say and what we do. Do our actions and behaviors match up with the vision that we have laid out? Have we discussed, defined, measured our standards for each day? And can we observe and analyze those standards to determine how close or far away we are from achieving them?
Moreover, do we have everyone on the same page, and not just coach and players. Our parents, administrators, fans, community members, teachers, spirit groups, feeder programs, auxiliary staff, etc. Any and every stakeholder that has some skin in the game is involved in our program from the top down. How aligned are they with our overall mission?
Just as importantly the environment we create to operate in has to allow for, support, reward, and promote the behaviors, decisions, and actions we say we are about. Do our practices allow for the type of teaching and development we say we are about? Do we have feedback systems in place and open lines of communication for our players and other stakeholders to voice their opinions or concerns if we state that we have an “open-door policy?” Do we undermine the selfless behaviors we say we care about by only rewarding those who can score the ball even if they fall short on the intangibles? Essentially, do your actions back up our beliefs and vice versa?
Finally, and this may be the most important piece of the 4 part series, once we complete these steps of reflection, awareness, clarity, and alignment we must never forget that we are not done.
Once we go through each of these phases, successfully or otherwise, the important thing to remember is that our work is not finished.
We must repeat the process.
We must immediately reflect on how aligned we are. We must evaluate how much clarity exists for the different phases of our program. undergoing this process raises our individual and collective awareness to create an even more aligned program.
The results here can be truly amazing. Each time we rinse and repeat we build a stronger, more essential, longer-lasting program.
Stay Essential,
Kyle Kavanaugh
ready to complete the pathway and align every aspect of your program? click here.
did you miss any of the first three parts of the pyramid pathway? click for Part 1 - Reflection | click for part 2 - awareness | click for part 3 - clarity
