YOUR BEST AMIDST THE COMPLAINTS

My recent trip to Italy revealed my “inner control freak.” I was in a situation in Rome where I wasn’t the resident authority. I arrived thinking my role was something that it wasn’t and it disturbed me because I’m arrogant…straight up. On any given day, we motor to work, to class, to practice with preset expectations and often a muted understanding of the hierarchy. In my case, I’m used to being the lead instructor at basketball camps who dictates the complexion of the week’s goings on. But Italy reminded me of a key question: “Will you give your best amidst complaints?”

Complaining is natural so it’s going to happen. When you’re working for someone else, you won’t always do it the way the boss thinks you should. Eyes are watching you, evaluating your methodology, determining your level of effectiveness. But when those eyes fall upon you, what will they find? Do they find you giving your best, most creative work toward a solution that suits the target audience? In other words and in my case, I was instructing mostly Italian basketball players between the ages of 9-to-17. Basketball is played differently in Europe, according to Federation de Internationale Amateur (FIBA) rules. The world has spent the last 30 years attempting to close the gap between themselves and the Americans in this sport. But while giving deference to the United States, that same world consisting of players and coaches from dozens of countries has made great strides in basketball developement. They have their own style and focus. I’m sure I don’t necessarily teach the sport the way they would want me to nor do they value all of the coaching elements I deem essential. Amidst the criticisms, however, I realize that I have a responsibility to give my absolute best to instruction.

How many times have you begun the complaining or acknowledged the criticism about your work only to have it slow you from the task? Italy was one of those watershed moments showing me the thinness of my own skin and how it interferes with objectives. When the complaining begins, you’re prone to anger and a lapse in concentration. The “main thing” is constantly in danger of taking a back seat to emotion-based performance. The next time the negativity starts to flow, check your “effort” gauge to see if it’s on E.