The 10 essential characteristics that winners must possess
“I want winners!” -Mike Singletary, Head Football Coach, San Francisco 49ers
Recruitment is the lifeblood of any team. You need new people for different ways of looking at things, different skill sets, and to take your team to the next level. Beyond the measurables, what makes one player a winner and another a short one? If I knew the definitive answer to that, I might retire in the South of France! I’m sure most coaches and leaders believe that there is more than skill that contributes to someone being a winner. let’s use the book game values by Bill Bradley to help shed some light on the intangibles that separate those who are highly skilled from those who have the makings of a winner.
1. Passion: A winner loves to play and has fun playing, they are what some trainers call gym rats. Is there no one to play with? They will play by themselves… the opportunity to play sports gives them joy.
two. Discipline: Winners follow the game plan. Think of the running back who has to patiently wait for the offensive line to open up a gap…that’s discipline. Winners understand that not only do they need to discipline their bodies through practice, but they also know that their minds need to be mastered through that very practice.
3. Disinterest: The winners know their role in the team and are internally and externally happy with it. You won’t find them grumbling in the background or trying to make others unhappy with them, they put the team first. If you have a team full of people willing to sacrifice personal glory for the good of the team, then you are well on your way to becoming a united team and a team of winners.
Four. Respect: Winners respect their coaches, their teammates, the department support staff, the officials. Beyond that, the winners are students of the game. They love to watch videos, study the next opponent, and work on any weaknesses within their own game.
5. Perspective: Winners know two very important things. They know they need to practice…no matter how good they are and they know they need their teammates…no matter how good they are.
6. Courage: Winners have the courage to give 100% for their team, to risk failing or falling short. They play bravely in the moments when their game is “off,” because they know the team is counting on them. Winners are willing to take risks.
7. Leadership: A winner knows that it is their job to make their teammates truly believe in their team’s goals. Beyond that, they tend to be your most prepared players… for the preseason, for practices and for games. Finally, and most importantly, winners are respected by their peers… after all, can you really be a leader if no one follows you?
8. Responsibility: Winners know they owe it to their team to complete their off-season workouts, follow the rules, and be a friend…not just a teammate. They also understand that it is their responsibility to stay mentally and physically focused on the practice.
9. Resilience: Losses, bad games… winners know how to let them go. In fact, the game right after his disappointing performance is likely to be one of his best. Winners know how to bounce back.
10 Imagination: Winners are winners in their minds long before they win on the court. They visualize their success and then put in the hard work of making it happen. Winners imagine themselves great.
There you go, trainers… now go out there and find some winners!