Would Geno Auriemma recruit you?

A lesson on body language and attitude

I originally published this article in March 2022.

More than 500 of you haven’t read it, and it’s one of my favorites, so here it is again. Enjoy!

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Watch this 2:30-minute clip before reading on:

As the head coach of UConn's women’s basketball team, Geno Auriemma knows something about creating a winning culture.

He also knows that team culture is fragile, and a poor recruiting or coaching decision could bring the whole thing down.

So, he uses a filter:

“…recruiting kids that are really upbeat, loving life, love the game, have this tremendous appreciation for when your teammates do something well — that’s hard. That’s really hard. So on our team, we [me, my coaching staff], we put a huge premium on body language. And if your body language is bad, you will never get in the game. EVER.”

While watching this clip, I wondered…

Being who I am today, would I get recruited?

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Life is a team sport.

Our attitude and actions determine whether we get recruited or sit on the bench.

When we celebrate our colleagues for their accomplishments — regardless of our own performance — we get recruited.

When we complain instead of contribute, we get benched.

When we look at our phone, instead of staying present to the people we’re with, we get benched.

When we share knowledge to build up those around us, we get recruited.

When we hide knowledge to distinguish ourselves from our peers, we get benched.

When we choose to learn instead of pretending to know, we get recruited.

When we make snide comments to other professionals in our field on social media, we get benched.

When we care more about who we are than how many followers we have, we get recruited.

My favorite part of Geno’s message came at the end:

“When I watch game film, I’m checking what’s going on on the bench. And if somebody’s asleep over there, somebody doesn’t care, somebody’s not engaged in the game, they will never get in the game. EVER.”

This is as true in life as it is in basketball.

Your attitudes and actions are noticed and watched by people who can influence your future, especially when you’re on the bench.

WHO are you, and HOW do you behave when life isn’t ideal?

It’s easy to be a person of character when things go your way, but how do you respond when…

• You get rejected?

• Someone challenges your viewpoint?

• You’re given unsolicited feedback?

• Your ‘competition’ outshines you?

• A business competitor moves into your neighborhood?

• You make a mistake and have to tell on yourself?

• Someone tells you that your words or actions have harmed them?

• You get a negative comment on a social media post?

Do you react to defend your reputation, or do you look inward and see the challenge as an opportunity to strengthen your character?

As John Wooden said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

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Imagine you’ve been tasked with building a world-class team of coaches (if you’re not a coach, replace it with your specific title).

Would you recruit you?

If you answered yes, prove it.

List the behaviors you consistently exhibit that make you a top recruit. Be specific.

Do you learn and use people’s names?

Do you offer help when you see a colleague struggling?

Do you pick trash off the gym floor even though you didn’t leave it there?

Do you speak kindly of other people? (even when they’re not present)

Do you share what you know, especially with those coming up behind you?

Do you show up early as a sign of your commitment and respect?

What specific things do you do to make you a top recruit?

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If you’re interested in working together or bringing communication training to your team, let’s talk.

Thanks for reading!

Jenny