Would you get recruited?
A lesson on body language & attitude from Geno Auriemma
Watch this quick 2:30-minute clip before reading on:
Geno Auriemma is the head coach of UConn’s women’s basketball team — he knows a thing or two about creating a winning culture.
He also knows that the culture he’s created is fragile, and a single poor recruiting choice could bring the whole thing down.
So, what’s his recruiting 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?
And you should be asking the same question.
Life is a team sport.
Every day, you and I are acting in ways that determine if we get recruited or if we 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 choose to look at our phone instead of staying present to the people we’re with, we get benched.
When we share knowledge with the intention of improving those around us, we get recruited.
When we hide knowledge as a way to distinguish ourselves among our peers, we get benched.
When we allow ourselves to express enthusiasm for our work instead of playing it cool, we get recruited.
When we choose to learn instead of pretend 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.”
We’re always being watched in the sport of life — especially when we’re on the bench (and there will always be moments in our lives when we’re on the bench).
I believe that who we are when we’re on the bench matters more than who we are when we’re on the floor.
So, what now?
Imagine you’ve been tasked with building a world-class team of coaches.
Would you recruit you?
If you answered yes, prove it.
Make a list of the behaviors you exhibit consistently 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 of the gym floor even though you’re not the one who left 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 are the specific things you do and the ways you participate (in life) that make you a top recruit?
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Thanks for reading.