3 examples of unselfishness

Putting others first, ahead of yourself. Truly being unselfish. Recognizing you are a part of a team. Realizing that you will need help from others in order to achieve your goals. These thoughts have appeared in this blog before, but three shining examples came to light this past week.

• The "Tradition" of Windsor Men's Basketball was on display and celebrated by so many people - all of whom, we are fortunate to hold close to the heart of our program. Last Saturday, our program was pleased and proud to host its annual Past, Present, and Future reception. To gather together, celebrate, and be reminded of the ways in which so many have selflessly contributed to a common purpose, was very humbling. We remain grateful to each and every one of our program's many supporters.
• Jerry Sloan, the longtime, successful coach of the Utah Jazz, retired this week. Coach Sloan is an outstanding example of a person being steadfastly committed to doing things the right way. His discipline, his purposeful approach, and unselfish commitment to making other people better are to be commended. He has improved the lives and careers of so many - in basketball, and beyond.
• This is not a political statement - merely an observation. A truly historic event took place in a unique part of the world. The citizens of a region may have indeed changed their future by putting others ahead of themselves, realizing they were one small part of a large team, and knowing that the help of others would be needed in order to achieve their own personal goals.
  

Transform Versus Conform

In order to fully have an 'others' focus, players need to differentiate between TRANSform and CONform. I will explain. So that they can grow and develop, people need to realize that they will need the help of others to help get them to where they want to go. I have reinforced this concept with recent tweets at twitter.com/Chris__Oliver (or @Chris__Oliver).

If players (and coaches) recognize that help from others is needed, then they also need to have an 'others' focus so that they develop the proper unselfish mindset themselves - another example of balance. In order for that to happen, those same players need to change their thinking away from "my teammates and coaches need to CONform to my style of play." If teams are going to succeed, the unselfish mindset of "I need to use my skills and adjust my attitude to TRANSform to my team's goals and style of play" needs to prevail.

On paper, this is all wonderful and good. In reality, this is only accomplished through personal maturity, a true unselfish approach, and a genuine desire to make others around us better. Individuals on successful teams transform - they do not expect team members to conform. The difference is enormous, the results are obvious.

Program Humility

Coaches should seek to remind their players that they are privileged and should be grateful. Some ways to help players grow and build humility in to programs:

• volunteer at schools, read for kids, teach them games and skills (players will quickly see the positive impact in the lives of youth, teachers will be thankful for the generosity and help, fans will be fostered)
• serve meals for the less fortunate at a soup kitchen (team meals and per diems will no longer be taken for granted or be unappreciated)
• help the elderly in care facilities or assist at a hospital (will remind players that good health is not a given and needs to be maintained)
• travel as a team, whether close or far, to other cities and gyms (it will reinforce the importance of togetherness, the value of the home gym and locker room, plus the ease of the local routine versus the displacement and sometimes inconvenience of travel)
• assist in times of crisis or local emergencies, such as weather-related events like floods or storms (reminds of calm, focus, and dedication to task in the face of adversity)
• overall, an "other" focus will lead to player and team growth