We’ve discussed a few outside-the-box metrics on ‘how to tell if you’re a good coach’.
Today, we add one more.
The Celebration Razor…
I love watching big tournament championships and national championships for a different reason than most people… I like watching the celebrations.
But I focus in on a few key guys when the confetti and gloves are flying…
The coaching staff.
As I’m writing this, conference tournaments just ended for hockey. While watching, I recalled an experience where a college team I was a part of won a conference tournament and this razor became obvious.
It was Iowa State vs. Ohio… I was scratched again.
The clock hit zero in Chicago and our team happened to win the game.
But nobody would have guessed it.
We didn’t know if we were ‘allowed’ to celebrate.
We were scared of what the boss man might do.
It was the only team I’ve ever been a part of that has won while every player on the roster had extreme disdain for the coach.
No gloves flew, no hugs were had. It made me sick to my stomach watching from the top row of the rink as my friends stood around after winning a league title.
This razor is for the non-outlier scenario I just described.
When I zoom in on the adults in suits after a win, I watch.
Sometimes one coach gets hugged and players go out of their way to ‘get’ to that coach.
Maybe the other coach is getting shoulder taps from a few players but nobody is changing their route to greet this coach.
One coach is getting picked up by players.
One coach is giving out handshakes.
To me, it’s one of the most fascinating leadership snapshots you can grab massive information from.
Maybe ADs can watch for this.
Maybe a HC that needs to replace an assistant can also clue his attention to the ‘big game’ for this reason…
The Celebration Razor:
Assume if you’re giving handshakes instead of getting hugs, you’re not as great of a leader as you think you are