Leaders by Example

Involves 4 Main Characteristics:1. Commitment2. Confidence3. Composure4. Character

WEEK 3 LEADERSHIP: CONFIDENCE

How To Believe In Yourself and Your Ability To Lead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QTBAWc3tM

(Hoosiers: 1954 State Championship Game)

“I’ll make it!”

Confidence is Fragile: Handle with Care

OHaving confidence means that you believe in yourself and your ability to lead.

OThe toughest thing about confidence is that it is very, very fragile.

OSports are filled with MANY ups and downs that can impact your confidence.

OALL player from time to time struggle with their confidence, even elite players.

Confidence is Fragile: Handle with Care

O There is a great deal of natural failure built into every sport.

O Examples: The best QB’s throw incomplete passes 40% of the time, the top basketball players miss 50% of the shots they take, baseball players don’t get a hit 70% of the time, and the great hockey/soccer players only find the back of the net on only 10% of their shots on goal.

O Even the best athletes struggle with their games from time to time and need to repair their confidence.

Confidence is Fragile: Handle with Care

O Some athletes have a tendency to stop leading when they aren’t playing well.

O Their lack of confidence causes them to retreat into their shells, stop communicating, and become a distraction to their teammates.

O Don’t do this. Maintain your confidence whether you have your “A” gam or “B” game.

O PLAYING WELL IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO LEADING!!!

Solid Sense of SelfO Ultimately your confidence comes from

within. You must believe in yourself and who you are as a person.

O Athletes who lack personal confidence do not make good leaders. You can not let what others think of you dictate your actions.

O There will be many times you will need to stand up for what is right and follow your own convictions.

O Athletes who focus more on popularity than principles do not make good leaders. They lack self-assurance and courage.

Assignment1. How comfortable are you with yourself and who you are as a

person? Explain.

2. How much importance do you put on what others think of you?

3. What do you stand for? What are you all about?

4. Can you do/say what is right even though it might go against the crowd? If so, write about a time when you have done that.

Want to Perform Under Pressure

O Confidence is critical in your sport. As a confident leader, you should want to perform when the game is on the line.

O This does NOT mean that you will make every play or get the chance to make every play. But your teammates and your coach will know that you have the confidence to aggressively TRY to make plays.

O If you shy away from pressure situations, you will quickly lose the respect of your coach and teammates.

“I want to be the guy this team leans on in critical situations. You always

hear people saying, ‘I’d want to be in a foxhole with that guy,’ that’s what it’s all about.”

Brett Favre

Four Sources of Confidence

1. Preparation2. Strengths3. Past Successes4. Praise

1. PreparationO Hard work and great preparation are

the foundation of confidence.O Confidence is EARNED by the quality

training you put in: practicing, weight lifting, conditioning, film study, nutrition, mental training, etc.

O List all of the quality preparation you have done for your sport. What gaps are there in your preparation?

2. StrengthsO A great way to build your confidence is

to take an inventory of all the strengths you possess as an athlete.

O The strengths are the weapons you do battle with. You must know what you are good at so you can unleash these strengths on your opponents.

O What do you do well? What do you have going for you physically? What aspects of your game are your best weapons? What are your mental strengths?

3. Past SuccessesO Reflecting on your past successes is

another excellent way to bolster your confidence.

O Take a look at key plays you have made over your career. Obviously the ability is there physically, you just need to remind yourself of it mentally so that it will surface again when you need it.

O Michael Jordan often reminded himself of the game wining shot he hit at UNC in the National Championship game back in 1982.

4. PraiseO Use the words and actions of others

to help build your confidence. O Think of a time when someone your

really respected paid you a compliment. How did it make you feel? Did their belief in you help you believe more in yourself?

O Use the compliments of coaches, teammates, friends, parents, teachers, and others to remind yourself that you have what it takes to be successful.

Rely Primarily on Yourself for Confidence

O CAUTION: Do NOT put too much stock in other people’s praise!

O Praise from others can be used to jump start your confidence from time to time, but don’t use it as your main source of confidence.

O WHY?1. Confidence must come from within.2. You might be in an environment where

praise is given sparingly. Your confidence may starve to death in this situation.

Resilient Reaction to Failure

O A final way to demonstrate your confidence is how you react to failure.

O How do you respond when you make mistakes: Do you give up, pout, and make excuses? Or do you learn lessons from them, refocus on the next play, and correct your mistakes?

O Confident athletes quickly recover from their mistakes (amnesia) and refocus on the next play with optimism.

AssignmentO Strengthening your Confidence

Worksheet.

O List 3-5 major points or insights you gained from this lesson on confidence.