Pressure vs. Freedom (next post 7/13)

Last Thursday night we saw a world-class athlete who just had the weight of the world removed from his shoulders.  As I watched LeBron James celebrate with teammates, I was struck by the joy and relief he demonstrated.  It didn't come as a surprise, obviously LeBron's journey to the NBA title and the criticism he's received along the way have been very well documented.  And I know I won't make any friends in Cleveland with this statement, but it was a treat to see an athlete of LeBron's caliber who has money, fame, etc. and was clearly motivated by something more.

His comments after the game were telling, and provided a lesson I believe many of us can benefit from.  In contrasting Miami's loss in the 2011 Finals with their title this year, LeBron talked about going back to playing for the enjoyment of the game.  He played to be the best individual player and teammate he could be.  He talked about how last year he was playing angry, with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove something to people.  Last year, there was a great deal of self-imposed pressure on him to perform, and it detracted from his performance.

As a coach, my players will perform best when I create a culture that allows them to play freely.  Of course sometimes a coach needs to be a motivator.  That's certainly part of the job.  But at the end of the day, players should understand that they don't need to play to please their coaches, their parents, or anyone else.  They simply need to play.

80's Lyric

We're right

We're free

We'll fight

You'll see

-  Twisted Sister (1984)