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.