Leadership Begins with Culture | Jay Miller | TEDxLSSC

Summary

The speaker recounts the birth of his second child, Maddox, and the family's harrowing experience when he was rushed to the hospital with a bacterial infection. He reflects on his role as a college softball coach, emphasizing the importance of culture and acceptance in creating a successful team. He shares the story of Rachel, a unique player who flourished in an environment of love and support. The speaker advocates for a positive work environment, citing statistics on job dissatisfaction and the impact of leadership on culture. He concludes with the message that treating people with respect and love, both in sports and the workplace, leads to better outcomes.

Takeaways

• 👶 The birth of the speaker's second child, Madox, and the challenges faced when he was rushed to the hospital due to a bacterial infection.
• 🌧️ A dramatic situation where the speaker raced a helicopter to the children's hospital during a torrential downpour.
• ⏰ The urgency of finding the cause of the infection within 12 hours to prevent irreversible damage.
• 🏠 The emotional strain of splitting time between the house and the hospital while caring for two children.
• 🤝 The support received from a wide network of people, highlighting the impact of the speaker's work as a college softball coach.
• 🏆 The transformation of the Lake Sumter State College softball program into a competitive team through culture change.
• 🌟 The importance of embracing individuality and creating an inclusive environment, exemplified by the story of Rachel, a unique player.
• 🏆 Rachel's success as a two-time all-conference selection and academic achievements, showing the positive impact of a supportive environment.
• 📉 The alarming statistics from the Gallup poll indicating a high percentage of people who dislike their jobs or bosses.
• 🍌 The Savannah Bananas' success as a baseball team, attributed to their fun and positive atmosphere rather than just skill.
• 📚 Research showing a direct correlation between a positive environment and improved on-field performance.
• 📖 The speaker's book, 'The Island,' which discusses unconventional coaching methods focusing on people rather than just players.
• 🔥 The negative effects of yelling as a coaching method and its potential to desensitize and demotivate athletes.
• 👨‍👦 The speaker's personal experience with his father's coaching style and the realization of its impact on team dynamics.
• 🔄 The change in the speaker's father's perspective after coaching at a different level, recognizing the ineffectiveness of yelling.
• 🧐 The study from Brigham Young University that found yelling can lead to negative responses from athletes rather than motivation.
• 💖 The final message to coach hard but love even harder, emphasizing the importance of treating athletes as people first.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in July 2019 for the speaker?

The speaker and his wife welcomed their second child, Maddox, into the world.

What was the weight of the speaker's son Maddox at birth?

Maddox weighed 10 pounds and 6 ounces at birth.

What emergency situation did the speaker's newborn son face at eight days old?

Maddox had a bacterial infection, and the doctors gave them 12 hours to find the cause to prevent irreversible damage.

How did the speaker's phone become overwhelmed with messages?

The speaker received numerous messages from current and former players, coaches, colleagues, friends, and family after his son was taken to the hospital.

What changes did the speaker implement in the Lake Sumter State College softball program?

The speaker changed the culture off the field to positively affect the outcome on the field, aiming to create better people, not just better ball players.

What was the team's achievement in 2018 under the speaker's leadership?

In 2018, the team broke the school record for wins in a season, had their best finish in Mid-Florida Conference history, and achieved their first winning season since 2000.

Who is Rachel and what made her unique when she joined the team?

Rachel was one of the first players signed by the speaker. She was unique because she was homeschooled, her religion was very important to her, and she lived at home with her family instead of in the apartments with the other players.

How did the speaker respond to Rachel's homesickness during practice?

The speaker embraced Rachel's uniqueness and reassured her that he also wanted to go home and miss his family, creating an environment of understanding and support.

What academic and athletic achievements did Rachel accomplish?

Rachel was a two-time all-conference selection, a two-time NJCAA All-Academic first team member, the first player from the program to win the Florida Gene Williams Award, and she finished her academic career with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She also led her conference in stolen bases as a first baseman.

What is the significance of the Savannah Bananas baseball team in the context of the script?

The Savannah Bananas are highlighted as an example of a team with a fun and positive atmosphere, which has led to both high game attendance and improved on-field performance.

What did the speaker write after his son's hospitalization?

The speaker wrote a book called 'The Island: An Unconventional Way of Coaching People, Not Players,' discussing the importance of culture and environment in coaching and leadership.

What is the main message of the speaker's book 'The Island'?

The main message is the importance of treating athletes as people first, focusing on building relationships and creating a positive environment, rather than relying on yelling and negative reinforcement.

What study did Curtis Sprole conduct regarding the impact of culture on performance?

Curtis Sprole collected data over a three-year period and compared NCAA Division One players' stats to when they played for the Savannah Bananas, finding a direct correlation between a positive environment and improved on-field performance.

What alarming statistic did the Gallup poll reveal about job satisfaction?

The Gallup poll revealed that 85% of people worldwide hate their job, with the number slightly lower in the US at 70% who strongly dislike their job or their boss.

What is the speaker's stance on yelling as a coaching method?

The speaker is against yelling as a coaching method, stating that it can be demotivating and create a negative environment. He believes in building relationships and treating athletes with love and respect.

What change did the speaker's father experience after moving back to high school coaching?

The speaker's father realized that yelling at the high school level was ineffective, as the athletes had become desensitized and were no longer responsive to it.

What did the study by David C. Barney and Alema Toiley find about the effects of yelling on athletes?

The study found that athletes are more negatively affected by being yelled at than actually motivated, and that consistent yelling from coaches does not yield the desired results.