Dr. Jim Loehr | X's & O's of Building Character

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the critical role of character development in coaching, asserting its impact on performance outcomes. They liken character building to physical muscle growth, requiring consistent effort. Strategies include setting daily themes, journaling, leveraging injuries to build resilience, and using role models. The speaker stresses the importance of coaches embodying the character traits they wish to instill, especially during challenges, as their actions set the tone for the team.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Coaching football is about more than just processes and responsibilities; it's also about building character.
• 💪 Just as you build physical muscles by investing consistent energy, character muscles grow through deliberate effort.
• 🧠 There is a strong link between developing character and improving performance outcomes.
• 📝 Coaches can use various strategies to build character, like having a theme for the day or week focused on traits like persistence or positivity.
• 📖 Players can select a character trait to work on daily, write it down in their journals, and coaches can help them strengthen it during practice.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Injuries can serve as an opportunity to build resilience when framed in the right context.
• 📢 Former athletes who demonstrated great character can inspire current players by sharing how those lessons affected their lives beyond sports.
• 👀 Players constantly observe their coaches, especially in difficult situations, and judge their character by their actions, not just words.
• 🏅 Being a role model for the character traits you wish to instill in players is crucial, particularly when facing adversity.
• 💡 You don't need formal training in character development to teach it; a strong commitment and mindset are what make it effective.

Q & A

What was the elite coach's initial reaction to the idea of using football to build character?

The elite coach expressed surprise and skepticism, stating that he had no training in character development and felt that was the responsibility of parents, not him.

What does the speaker suggest is the link between character building and performance outcomes?

The speaker suggests that there is a significant correlation between building character and achieving better performance outcomes.

How does the speaker compare building character to physical muscle development?

The speaker uses the metaphor of physical muscle growth to explain character development, stating that consistent energy investment in character traits leads to growth, just as it does with muscles.

What is one strategy the speaker suggests for building character in athletes?

One strategy suggested is having a theme for the day or week, such as persistence or positivity, and having each player select a character trait to work on.

How does the speaker recommend leveraging an injury to build character?

The speaker suggests using an injury as an opportunity to demonstrate resilience, framing it in a way that encourages young players to show extraordinary strength in the face of adversity.

What role does the speaker believe former athletes can play in teaching character?

Former athletes who have demonstrated great character can serve as role models, visiting teams to talk about how the lessons learned in sport have impacted their lives outside of it.

What is the most important piece of advice the speaker has for coaches regarding character building?

The most important advice is for coaches to be role models of the character strengths they wish to teach, especially during difficult times when they are under scrutiny.

How does the speaker feel about the coaches present at the event?

The speaker expresses honor at having the coaches present and expects great stories of character development from each one of them.

What does the speaker believe is necessary to teach character, according to the transcript?

The speaker believes that a PhD in character is not necessary; instead, a commitment to coaching with character development in mind is what is needed.

How does the speaker encourage coaches to highlight character development in their teams?

The speaker encourages coaches to make character development a big deal, even when the team loses, and to consistently display and reinforce these traits.

What does the speaker suggest about the visibility of a coach's character?

The speaker suggests that a coach's character is always on display, and that players are closely observing their coach's behavior, especially during challenging times.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 Building Character Through Football Coaching

The speaker shares a conversation with a football coach who expresses concern about being tasked with building character in players, despite having no training in this area. The speaker then delves into the relationship between character and performance outcomes, drawing on data that shows a strong link between the two. The analogy of building physical muscles through consistent energy investment is used to explain how character is developed. The speaker suggests strategies for coaches to build character in players, such as setting daily themes, having players select character traits to work on, and using role models. The importance of coaches embodying the character traits they wish to instill in their players, especially during challenging times, is emphasized.

05:02

🤝 The Commitment to Character Coaching

In the second paragraph, the speaker encourages coaches to commit to teaching character without needing a formal education in it. The speaker acknowledges the presence of extraordinary coaches in the audience and expresses gratitude for their contributions. The speaker concludes by expecting great stories from the coaches, implying that their experiences and insights will be valuable in furthering the understanding of character coaching.

Keywords

💡Character

Character refers to the moral and ethical qualities of an individual, including personal values, integrity, and resilience. In the video, it is central to the discussion on coaching, where the speaker emphasizes that building character is as important as teaching football skills. The speaker uses the analogy of physical muscles to explain how character traits can be developed through consistent effort and investment.

💡Performance Outcomes

Performance outcomes are the measurable results or achievements that occur from an individual's or team's efforts. The video suggests a strong link between building character and achieving better performance outcomes, implying that strong character traits can lead to improved performance on the field.

💡Coaching

Coaching in the context of the video is not only about teaching football skills but also about guiding individuals to develop their character. The speaker discusses how coaching should encompass the development of personal qualities that contribute to both on-field success and off-field life.

💡Muscles of Character

This term is used metaphorically to describe the character traits that can be 'built' or strengthened, similar to how one would build physical muscles. The speaker explains that just as physical muscles grow with consistent exercise, character traits like resilience and positivity can be developed through deliberate practice and focus.

💡Investment

Investment, in this context, refers to the effort and resources put into developing character traits. The speaker mentions that to build character, one must 'invest' time and energy, just as one would in physical training. This investment is necessary for the growth and development of the 'muscles of character'.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. In the video, the speaker suggests using injuries as an opportunity to build resilience in young athletes, framing them as a chance to demonstrate strength and adaptability.

💡Role Model

A role model is someone who serves as an example to others. The speaker stresses the importance of coaches being role models for the character strengths they want to instill in their players. The coach's behavior, especially during challenging times, sets the standard for the players to emulate.

💡Commitment

Commitment is the dedication and determination to fulfill a pledge or engage in a course of action. The speaker highlights that coaching for character does not require a formal education but a strong commitment to developing and demonstrating the desired character traits.

💡Theme

A theme in the video is a specific character trait that is focused on for a period, such as a day or a week. The speaker suggests setting themes like 'positivity' or 'persistence' to provide a clear focus for players to develop particular character muscles.

💡Journal

A journal is mentioned as a tool for players to write down the character trait they want to work on, which coaches then review. This practice is part of the process of building character by setting personal goals and reflecting on one's progress.

💡Injury

Injury is typically seen as a setback, but the speaker reframes it as an opportunity to demonstrate resilience. Injuries can be leveraged to build character by encouraging players to view them as challenges to overcome rather than as ends to their progress.

Highlights

The elite coach's initial resistance to using football to build character due to lack of training in that area.

The speaker's decade-long exploration of the link between character and performance outcomes.

The revelation that building character is as tangible as building physical muscles.

The necessity of consistent energy investment for character growth.

The idea that character muscles can be developed through daily and weekly themes.

The practice of having players select a character trait to work on daily.

The importance of highlighting and making a big deal out of character development, even in loss.

The suggestion to use injury as an opportunity to build resilience.

The use of articles and quotes to emphasize the significance of character.

Encouraging players to bring examples of character from their reading or observations.

Inviting former athletes who exemplify character to speak to the team.

The critical role modeling plays in teaching character strengths.

The coach's character is always on display, especially during difficult times.

The coach's commitment to character development is more important than academic credentials.

The speaker's honor in addressing the audience and the expectation of great stories from them.

The applause at the end signifying the impact of the message.

Transcripts

and a conversation I had recently with

an NC to a very elite coach he said this

to me said I spent virtually my entire

professional life learning how to coach

football every aspect of it my plate is

overflowing with processes details and

responsibilities now you're telling me

that's my first responsibility is to use

football to build character are you

kidding me I have no training in the

character space I thought that was the

responsibility of terror so not only has

to rethink if you're right I have to

rethink put a new lens on everything I'm

doing that's a big ask I'm going to need

some help here those are almost exactly

his words and you know I spent the last

decade of my life really looking at the

relationship between character and

performance outcomes and for me it's

been the most exciting chapter of my

life and you know when I look at the

data it's really interesting because

there is a huge link between building

character and performance outcomes so

let's just do a few axes the nose in the

character building space to add on to

what you've already heard and what you

will hear this afternoon every one of

you knows how to build a muscle you know

how to build a bicep or a tricep pretty

clear you place demand on the muscle by

investing energy in it and consistent

energy investment spawns growth and

that's metaphor of the muscles of the

physical body is exactly how you build a

muscles of character if you want to have

twin guns on both sides have great vice

EFT that's an upgrade that's not

standard addition you gotta if you want

that you can have it but I will tell you

you have to organize your life and make

the investment that allow those muscles

of character to actually shine so you

have that

sense of not falling apart in blaming

and thinking about me and selfishness

but those muscles start to build they

vanish that's what great coaching is

doing this is why we're all here this is

what we all really want from each other

when it happens highlight it make it a

big deal just like it is a big deal even

when you lose make it a big deal if it's

showing and represent where this is

happening on a regular basis so there's

an infinite number of strategies you can

use these are just a few in addition to

what you've heard you can have a theme

for the day like persistence you can

have a theme for the week like

positivity have every player select a

character muscle they're going to work

on every day we do this at our academy

and they have to decide one thing that

they want to work on because they know

that muscle needs strengthening and they

write it down in their journal and the

coaches read it and they think they give

energy to it during the course of that

practice whether it's patient positivity

focus because they know these things are

they're fleeting for them they don't

have the strength they want to have an

injury can be used to leverage

extraordinary resilience in a young

player when they when they put it in the

right context display articles quotes to

drive home the importance of character

feed it to them all the time encourage

your players to bring examples from what

they've read or what they've seen on the

team or even at home have former

athletes who have been highly successful

and demonstrated great character come

and talk to the team and talk to talk to

them about how these things they learn

here have had a huge impact on their

life away from sport this is probably

the most important thing I can tell you

and that is via a role model for the

character strengths you want to teach

others be the strength that you want

your players to embody and do so most

importantly in difficult times when

people the team and you are struggling

your players are watching you they watch

you like a hawk you can say one thing

publicly but they know the truth is

manifested in who you are under direct

when you don't think anybody's watching

I will tell you somebody's watching your

character as a coach is always on

display and when you are building your

own character and your own character

muscles they will feel it and you are in

a better position then to actually move

forward and try to bring this

understanding to others so you don't

need a PhD in character to teach it what

you need is a commitment if this is how

you're going to coach and continue to

see how the folks here these

extraordinary coaches have found a way

to do this

they are coaching you you're coaching

all of us and I hope you're hearing it

fully it's been an honor to have you all

here and I'm expecting from every one of

you a great story thank you very much

[Applause]