Culture

The secret to Kelly Amonte Hiller's success locked in when she re-examined what it meant to win a championship.

Learn how the New Zealand All Blacks build team culture through simple daily standards that create lasting success beyond wins and losses.

Part 3 (San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon, November 2008) How I got to the start line Between Fulda in 2003 and San Antonio in 2008, my life got in the way of running. I deployed to Iraq. I came home. I damaged the meniscus in my knee running a half- marathon the year after I got back. The knee took its time getting diagnosed and worse, and by September 2007, I was on a table at Fort Polk getting it surgically repaired. The recovery from that surgery is what changed me as a

Leadership isn't tested when things are calm. It's tested when the pressure rises, the ego gets invited in, and someone has to decide whether the standards still apply — especially to themselves. Two of the most respected coaches in basketball just gave us a live demonstration. After a heated Final Four moment between Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley, Auriemma later apologized publicly and said he had "lost himself." The apology, however, didn't name Staley. It address

How Great Leaders Build Consistency in an Unpredictable Environment Every leader wants consistency. We want consistent performance, consistent habits, and consistent results. That is the standard. But most leaders chase it in the wrong place. We try to control the environment. We try to eliminate variables. We try to create predictability in a world that does not cooperate. Rosters change. Injuries happen. Rules evolve. The environment refuses to stay still. So the question i

Every coach reaches a point where the skills that brought you success are no longer enough to move you forward. At first, coaching is all about mastering your craft. You earn your reputation through technical skill: breaking down film, designing smart plays, running smooth practices, and helping players grow. The results are easy to see. When practice goes well, performance gets better. When performance improves, you win. And when you win, you move up. This approach works bec

Culture Isn’t a Slogan. It’s Behavior. In athletics, culture is often discussed but rarely defined. Real team culture is not about slogans or locker-room posters. It is the cultivated behaviors that leaders reinforce every day that, when aligned with purpose and standards, create a powerful competitive edge. Every coach is searching for a competitive edge. Coaches study new schemes. They invest in technology. They analyze performance data and look for any advantage that might