The Australian cricket team is the ICC T20 World Cup winner. They were improbable victors, many would say.

What caused them to win the tournament defeating powerful teams along the way?

I believe the answer lies in the players being able to answer these two questions:

1. “Who are we at our best?”

2. “How do we replicate those ingredients for success under pressure and in every game?”

The answer to no.1?

Fun.

This was the reason Australian coach Justin Langer gave on in the interview on the field right after the game. He said the team had “fun” together. This wouldn’t have been easy for Langer. Not that the man doesn’t like to have fun, but his approach to coaching is clear. He is very direct, does not hold any punches and values open, honest and sometimes brutal dialogue. None of this is wrong until it doesn't fit the culture of the team and until it doesn’t ...more

The Indian cricket team is under enormous pressure. A billion people are expecting them to win the Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup. They came into the competition as one of the favorites. Now, with 2 losses in 2 games the situation seems dire.

How do they navigate the rest of the tournament to keep their hopes of a semifinal berth alive?

Focus on their best selves

Every person wants to be more of their best more often and maximize their performance. To do this players need to focus on their strengths. Without an awareness of strengths, it’s almost impossible to contribute effectively to a team.

The players should consider:

• “Who am I and what do I do well when things are going well?”

• “Who am I and what do I do well when things aren’t going well?”

Focus on attitude and effort ...more

I want to share how coaches build winning teams through the power of visualization. The benefits are an increased focus and self-belief, and a calmness under pressure.

Unfortunately, too many coaches forgo this critical element of coaching. Winning begins in the mind. Huge opportunities are missed when coaches do not intentionally and persistently develop players’ mental strength.

We move in the direction of our thoughts.

The primary reason why is lack of understanding of how to visualize.

Other reasons are,

• Lack of training time; skill development takes priority.

• Belief that visualization doesn’t produce tough players.

• Lack of commitment to visualization practices. ...more

All good coaches ask this question: “How do I get my players to be the best version of themselves each day to build a winning team.”

The old view:

Players are problems to be solved. Problem solving will lead to something better. Success is guaranteed when there is a focus on fixing weaknesses.

The new view:

Players and teams as solutions to be uncovered. This new view is powerful because practices are used which create a persistent focus on performance successes and strengths. (Ted Lasso talks about his players being like “goldfish”). It is more powerful to remember what worked well and build on those successes.

These strategies when performed with intent and regularity, have the potential to transform teams and players.

The strategies a coach can use are:

a) Emphasizing success of a player. ...more

The Triangle of Success is made up of skill, will (motivation) and clarity, and gives coaches a structure to examine their coaching and communication, and identifies how to maximize players’ performances.

Great coaches know that so much of the team’s success is down to them. Research shows that the quality of the manager, team leader or coach is the single biggest factor in the team’s long-term success. This is a tool to support that journey:

Skill:

• Have I identified the precise skills required to have my players be successful?

• Have I explicitly coached these skills? Have I given opportunities for the skill to be practiced independently, guided in a group setting, modeled, practiced under pressure in game-like scenarios?

• Have the execution of the skills become habitual?

Will/Motivation: ...more

Coaches have plenty of advice to share with their players. Is there another approach that is less about giving advice and more about staying curious? Great coaches are forever curious. They ask generative questions that change how people think.

Generative questions:

• Create trust and a positive energy to move people and teams in a positive direction.

• Focus on “the best of what is and what might be” (Stavros & Torres).

• Open up new ways to solve challenging and complex problems and provide creative ways forward.

Old approach:

“Today you were selfish on the ball. You didn’t pass to your team mates. You had no vision and that impacted negatively on the team. You ran from deep in our half and got tackled in possession which resulted in turn overs. I want you to look up, and pass right”.

New approach: ...more