Chris Pickering

Are you a CEO, High Performance Manager, COO, Board Member or Head Coach of a Professional sporting team or an Olympic sport and asking yourself "Why didn't we win this year?". I can tell you. It's simpler than you think. Your ACTIONS did not match your VALUES. That's it. Every sporting team - every professional team - every Olympic sport I've worked with, does the good ole' Mission Statement, Vision and Values workshop breakout session at some time. They then typically post their all new Values on their web site, in their reception area, on their stationary, web sites, social media, office spaces and team practice and preparation areas, e.g. gyms, changerooms. The most common Values that sporting organizations come up with in my experience include: honesty, integrity, professionalism, hard-work, mate-ship / friendship, selflessness, discipline, resilience and courage. BUT...here's the key. The difference between the teams that WIN and the teams that DON'T WIN is - they don't live their VALUES. My favorite story to illustrate this - what I call the principle of LIVING VALUES: A friend of mine - a professional coach - rang me and invited to me attend a training session with their senior team. They'd had a poor season the previous year and as a result, the Board had commissioned a consultant to come in, complete a review and recommend a new set of organizational Values. One of their new Values was "Professionalism". So I sat and watched the players, coaches and staff work together in their first training session of the new season - with the hopes that their new Values would underpin a successful new season. At the end of the session, the coach asked me "What do you think?" I said, "Your values - have no value". He asked, "Why would you say that?" I replied, "Professionalism is one of your new Values. It's a good word. But this is what I saw. Some players were late. Two coaches took phone calls during the session. Half the players didn't have water bottles - and most didn't hydrate during the session. When players made errors, some team members scoffed and embarrassed them. Half the team didn't bother to cool down. Not one player lifted a finger to set up or pack up after training. Several players weren't wearing the right training gear. You use the word Professionalism - but your actions say mediocrity". My friends - actions change the world. Culture is quite simply - WHAT YOU DO - so if you don't change what you do - your culture will not change and you will not get better! By tying Values to Behaviours - you give players, coaches and staff observable and measurable actions that they can be personally responsible for - and can keep each other accountable to! Nothing changes - if nothing changes. Values - without clear, specific behaviours that bring those Values to life through the actions of people are without value. #waynegoldsmith #wgcoaching #values #culture #elitesport #professionalsport