Encouraging Unselfishness

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Reference: What Drives Winning by Brett Ledbetter

Pay For Points

A couple of players went to their coach and said that they have an issue with a teammate.  They feel that their teammate is playing selfish and that it is hurting the team.

When the coach asked, “Why do you say that,” the players responded, “her parents are paying her to score points.”

What signal does it send to the player when his/her parents are paying them to score? 

Don’t pass.  Your points mean more than wins. 

What will that player value?  Individual success over team success.

When we pay our athletes for scoring, or we celebrate our athletes individual performance over team performance, we emphasize the wrong thing and they value the wrong thing. 

Ledbetter’s 42 points wasn’t enough.

Headlines like this show that when you score a lot of points, you get a lot of attention.  Celebrating individual success over team success teaches athletes to chase the applause, to seek the attention, and grow to like and even addicted to the attention because it feels great.

Be careful about what you are encouraging and celebrating.  When the games are over, do you just want the accolades, or do you also want the meaningful connections with coaches and teammates.

Be the kind of athlete that brings athletes with you.