The subject of "culture" is very important to me and my belief in terms of successful programs. I am actually currently writing a book on that subject. At Leadership Freak, they talk about the importance of celebrations to create and maintain culture and it's critically important.
As a very small example, let's go the video room with our team. It is easy -- and yes, necessary, to watch clips of your team making mistakes. You view it over and over and explain to the players involved and your team, what is wrong, why it is wrong and how you must correct it. But I find it equally important -- maybe more so, that you show clips of good execution -- and show that over and over and tell them why it is important and why it was successful -- and celebrate it -- make them feel good about doing it right! Don't assume that just because they did something right that they know they did it right!
A favorite Don Meyer phrase is "Catch them doing something right." This obviously goes towards games but also to practice and even all phases including weight lifting, conditioning, academics and their social life. Coach Meyer goes on to say that you shouldn't just compliment them on them doing something right but tell them why it was right -- it will help them to store it in their mind to continue to do it correctly.
For instance, a post player goes down to screen to get a teammate open for a shot. You don't say, "Sally, good screen." You should say "Sally, good job of getting your back to the ball on that screening angle. That's why we got that great shot." Now Sally knows that she did something right and more importantly, she knows how she did it. And hopefully, her teammates are listening and pick up on it as well.
In the Leadership Freak blog, he goes into detail about celebrating and how it helps create and maintain your culture:
Hate your work environment? Build rather than tear down. Whining reinforces negative environments. Celebrations build and reinforce positive environments.
Celebrations create culture.
Sadly, short-sighted leaders are stingy with positives and free with negatives. All they talk about is:
1. What went wrong?
2. What needs to be fixed?
3. What fell short?
Negative celebrations build negative environments.
Additionally, thoughtless leaders reserve celebrations for “the big stuff.”
Celebrate more; celebrate small.
Celebratory questions:
Ask these questions to colleagues and employees.
1. What qualities do you respect in those around you?
2. What do you love about your job?
3. What’s going right?
Celebration in meetings:
End every meeting with affirmations, congratulations, and recognition.
Saying, “Great job,” keeps everyone doing a great job.
Power tip: Let small celebrations stand on their own. Little negatives at the end drain positives of their power.
