Build a Strong Team Culture

"Our team culture has truly being re-shaped and re-molded with your wisdom and guidance, thank you. We all feel honored to have had you work so closely with us. Our personal growth as coaches from your work will continue to benefit the program, we have REALLY enjoyed working with you, and having you work with our teams." Coach Missy Mehard, Head Coach, Maryland Field Hockey

THE 11 CORE VALUES THAT CREATE A WINNING CHAMPIONSHIP WARRIOR CULTURE

Have you ever wondered how the world's most successful coaches build winning teams year after year?

Have you ever wondered how top coaches build lasting relationships with their athletes that stand the test of time and bear the burden of truth required in an elite coach/athlete relationship?

Don't you with you could spend a weekend learning the secrets of the world's most successful teams and leaders?

Now you can.

These secrets are embedded in their culture, the systematic body of learned behaviors which are transmitted to the athlete from coaches and team mates and have a huge impact on how the team behaves, plays and competes. The entire clan is profoundly shaped by the culture in which they live, a culture that recognizes the minds of other members of their team to be as important as their own. There is in such a culture the notion that we paly, practice and compete for a cause, belief, purpose bigger than any one individual.

Here is Kevin Kirk, coach of Patrick Reed, recent PGA Masters champion. Kevin is the South Texas PGA coach of the year. He attended Dr.Lynch's Way Of Champions coaching conference in Boulder,Colorado recently and claims that it impacted the manner in which he thinks about coaching. He decided to use Dr. Lynch as his teacher and according to Kevin, Jerry creates cultures where performance thrives which was the case with Patrick when he stepped to the first tee at the 2018 PGA Masters championship.

Champions focus, not on winning championships and outcomes, BUT on the spiritual process of building a strong culture that will ultimately create peak performance on a consistent basis, thus placing them in position to be the best they can be and, as a byproduct, win themselves a conference, league or national championship. That said, the MISSION for athletes is always "the exceptional execution of extraordinary excellence". I call this "the X-Factor", the process which is achieved by diligent, eager attention to all "the little things," those that we control such as the Eleven Core Spiritual Values that Drive Winning.

My "Way of Champions" culture creates goals that are in the now, process oriented objectives that serve as beacons on the horizon that keep all of us on track, living the lifestyle of a champion. Set goals that you can achieve now, in the process. In this regard, practice sessions become tantamount to a championship game, whereby you set a high standard and demand from each other strict adherence to these standards each time you enter the arena of play.

Know that this journey, this "way", is filled with obstacles. You will lose and you will fail. Yet this process is able to teach you how to go to the next level. The obstacles become challenges that you courageously embrace as opportunities to be tested, to learn and ultimately forge ahead. Plateaus will appear, and rather than get impatient or frustrated, you use these times to adapt to that level, master it and go on to discover levels beyond what you thought were limits. To force or try to make yourself push past the plateau will prove to be futile, counterproductive and discouraging. Plateaus are simply one more natural stop on the journey, time to refuel your emotional, spiritual, mental tanks, enjoy the moment, accrue the confidence from mastering that level and then advance not when you think you should, but when the time is right. Trust that when you go slower, you often arrive sooner.

On this journey, you will experience slumps and plateaus in your performance. Expect fluctuations and listen to their song. Remember that excuses ARE regressions, failures, mistakes. They allow the mind to "check out", not care and justify failure and write it off as useless when, indeed, it is our guru, teacher, mentor. . . how we learn all that we know. Embrace and accept failure -- this builds mental toughness.

Athletes on such teams within a championship culture must be accountable by demonstrating certain virtues/values/traits. Sport itself presents their constant opportunities to develop this inner, spiritual development. These virtues/values/traits are considered spiritual talents, and often are as important and vital as physical and mental talent when experiencing success.

"I have a number of friends who support my development of coaching principles. I count on Jerry Lynch as one who has given me encouragement and information to make a difference in helping athletes reach their potential. I use Jerry's examples to support my journeys into the unchartered waters of coaching." - Phil Jackson, Coach of Los Angeles Lakers

Here are the Essential Eleven Core Values that I teach teams to drive winning in a culture of warrior athletes. I use the acronym STRONG FACTS.

1. Selflessness

2. Trust

3. Respect

4. Oneness

5. Never Stop Competing

6. Gratefulness

7. Fearlessness

8. Awareness

9. Confidence

10. Thought Control

11. Sacrifice, Suffering

In this sacred culture we begin our purpose and mission with the "Why Factor" – why we come together and compete. Most others are preoccupied with the "What" and the "How." Successful organizations and movements begin with "Why." In Way of Champions culture, we play and compete for something bigger than any one individual, for a higher purpose and belief which is the caring, love and connections of us all. We are willing to fight, battle and even bleed for the love of each other. There is an interconnectedness where we feel related, connected, valued, important, a oneness and harmony within the culture. This is the "Why"... the reason and purpose that goes beyond a simple victory on the scoreboard. The Native American Lakota Nation calls this Mitakuye Oyasin, "We are all connected," to each other and to ourselves individually. THIS collective bond that is forged, is symbolized by the eternal image of THE CIRCLE.

IF YOU WANT A SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST TO HELP YOU WITH BUILDING A PERSONAL TEAM CULTURE FOR YOUR ATHLETES, I AM AVAILABLE TO DO THIS AT YOUR SITE OR CONSULT WITH YOU BY PHONE.

CALL 831-234-5606 FOR MORE INFORMATION.