I actually posted this in our blog for players, Hoopboost but after reading it, I think it is just as important for assistant coaches, support staff, managers and others who have important roles in successful program. So when you read "player," think "assistant coach" or whatever role you are filling...The mindset of a player who wants to contribute to a team's success is much different than a selfish player that is just looking to be a start and standout.
The following comes from "On Managing Yourself" which is a book sponsored by the Harvard Business Review. This particular passage comes from the great Peter Drucker who believes we must start with the first essential question:
What should my contribution be?
To answer it, they must address three distinct elements:
#1 What does the situation require?
#2 Given my strengths, my way of performing, and my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done?
#3 And finally, what results have to be achieved to make a difference.
Drucker's questions seem quite simple but it takes a truly honest, self-evaluating team player to ask these questions. Then it takes a committed, team-oriented player to go about doing the work necessary to create the contribution that he/she wants to truly make.
