“I certainly want that recognition for our players but I don’t want our players to seek that recognition. I want them to seek contact. I want them to seek toughness. I want them to seek other things like being really present and being good in the now. All that stuff takes care of itself and our guys kind of believe, ‘If we take care of what we’re supposed to take care of, then we’re going to get a chance.’ “ – University of Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart on the November 10, 2023 The Pat McAfee Show
Rather than seeking recognition from the fans, their piers, and social media, the following are four alternative things two-time defending national champion University of Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart wants his players to seek:
Coach Smart wants his Players to Seek Contact
In other words, Coach Smart wants his players to engage the issue, to not run from problems but the address them. Passivity is not part of the Georgia program. Is it part of your organization’s?
Coach Smart wants his Players to Seek Toughness
Coach Smart wants his players to be able to withstand adversity. This toughness is not only physical but mental and emotional as well. Toughness comes from repeatedly doing hard things.
To go deeper on the subject of developing toughness, read Duke coach Kara Lawson’s Must-See Video Debunking the Myth of “Easy” Leadership.
Coach Smart wants his Players to Seek Being Present
Phil Jackson said, “You’re only a success at the moment you perform a successful act. You’ve got to do it again.”
The most successful leaders and players do not look ahead. Their focus is on the next play, what is right in front of them. They can’t change the past, they learn from it. They don’t assume the future, they prepare for it.
What matters to the most successful people is what is happening right now.
Coach Smart wants his Players to be Good In The Now
This is all about execution. Coach Smart wants them to do their job and prioritize execution over emotion. What separates good players from elite ones is the ability to execute under pressure.
Shane Parrish writes in his phenomenal book Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, “A large part of achieving success is having the self-control to do whatever needs to be done, regardless of whether you feel like doing it at the moment. Emotional intensity is far less important in the long run than disciplined consistency. Inspiration and excitement might get you going, but persistence and routine are what keep you going until you reach your goals.”
Focus on the now.
#CommissionsEarned
Conclusion
If you are willing to be present, engage issues with mental, physical, and emotional toughness, and can execute under pressure, you have a chance to be the best in your profession.
For a deeper dive into the culture that been created at the University of Georgia, click 10 Things Elite Teams Do – Leadership Lessons From National Champion Head Coach Kirby Smart.
For Coach Smart’s complete interview on The Pat McAfee Show, click the video below”
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