Folks,

The best idea wins - such a simple idea, but so difficult to implement. 

Let me give you an example: 

A friend of mine attends a weekly meeting. At the meeting, if the developer speaks up everyone listens, the same is true of the Sales Director. But when the person who answers the customer queries speaks up, others usually challenge, or run down their ideas - power dynamics at play. 

I’ve started giving the kids at football practice puzzles to solve. “If the ball is here, and you are here facing this way, what happens next? It’s been a game-changer. Rather than shout out ideas each player walks through their role, what they are seeing, and what the next move is. 

The best idea wins - not mine, or the loudest player’s, or even the best player’s but the one that usually is a result of hearing everyone's point of view mushed into a better solution. It takes a little longer, but it’s worth it. 

I’m going to leave you with a concept I’m digging into called Community of Practice (CoP). Again, a simple concept that can be so badly designed that it turns into an awful power struggle. It reminds me of a quote I heard this week which made me laugh:

 “They pretend to pay us, we pretend to work.” 

The alternative is to Find the Energy  - find what people are truly motivated to learn, develop, and act on, not what the boss wants you to do. That’s exactly what Coach Camp is designed to do - Find the Energy - What are you working on? What inspires you? I’m delighted to announce that Coach Camp, hosted at Sport Wales Cardiff, is back for a third time this year on the 26th Oct 2024. You can secure your ticket here. 

I would be grateful if you would forward this link to grassroots coaches in the South Wales area who you think might appreciate it. 

Until next week,

Simon