Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Hey Coach,
Whenever I don't know what to do or where to start, I make a list.
When I'm looking for the next book to read, I make a list of the top sci-fi books of the century. When I want to learn how to vibe code using Claude, I search for a list of the best training videos. When I want to have a romantic evening with my wife, I ask her for a list of… ok :)
Maybe that's not romantic.
Over the next five weeks, I'll share my list of 5 Rules for Leading.
Most of you who read this Newsletter want to be a better leader, but few want to do what leadership requires. I know this because I'm the same. But having chosen to lead for a long time, I've learned some of the rules for leading, and I want to share them with you. Because coaches are leaders. So let's lead well.
Here's rule #1.
Raise the Stakes!
I’m pumped to share that I just medaled at the 5.0 level in pickleball, this is like becoming a scratch golfer, it’s the top level of amateur play. Leading up the tournament, I trained harder, prepped my mental game, strategized with my partner and got good coaching.
Why did I do all these things leading up to the tournament but don’t do them regularly? Because they’re hard, they take time and it’s more fun just to play games. In order to operate with more discipline, I had to raise the stakes. I had to go register for a 5.0 tournament, with public results at the edge of my comfort zone.
The result was a medal at the highest level I've ever competed at.
Now let’s apply this to leadership, many coaches will complain that their players don't put in enough work on their own. They don't study the game, drill on their own, or commit extra time to their craft. The reason isn't usually that players don't care…it's that the stakes don't demand more of them than just showing up to play.
If you want more from your team, it's your responsibility to lead them better.
Great leaders are constantly raising the stakes, finding ways to re-define their players comfort zones. To stretch them into new levels of effort, commitment and competition.
If what's on the line doesn't scare and excite them, you won't get their best.
HOW TO RAISE THE STAKES:
Ownership — Give up control of something and put them in charge. If the dynamic warm up fails, it’s on them, so they’ll talk more. If the BLOB doesn’t work, they’re to blame so they’ll probably know the play. If you care about something more than your team, chances are you haven’t empowered them. That’s raising the stakes.
Pain — Everything you want is on the other side of hard. There should be painful consequences for being below standard. The more pain, the more you’ve raised the stakes. Wanna bet $1 you can get a stop? Sure you may try, wanna bet $100, you’ll try harder. That’s raising the stakes. Establish a contract, that, if they fail to uphold it, will result in real pain or loss.
Fanfare — Make a big, public display around the task or challenge you've set. Make it public, put the leaderboard on the wall, give out awards for it, have an all time leader for that thing. Measure it every day. Want to take more charges? Increase the fanfare around charges. Want to make more 3s? Same thing. Energy flows where attention goes. Make it public, make it loud, and shine light on it daily.
Raise the stakes and see results.
Simple.
Stay SAVI,
-Tyler
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