When The Ball Is Kicked
The pre-game pep talk serves a few purposes.
- Remind players of their responsibilities
- Generate enthusiasm for the competition
- Demonstrate that the coach is with them and that the TEAM can accomplish great things together (Together Everyone Achieves More).
However, once the ball is kicked, whistle is blown, or bell is rung, all the pep talks in the world lose their effectiveness. You now have to rely on what you know, what you can do, and how to react in the moment.
Leadership that only relies on pep talks is superficial. It helps, but only as a launching point.
What matters most is leadership that inspires continuous effort, models expectations, is sensitive to the needs of the team members, and is always finding ways to support those efforts.
