Culture Check: Boundaries, Identity & Consistency

Culture is the engine that drives your team. It provides all the power that will take you in whatever direction you choose to steer it. For us, culture is about identity-as a person and as a team. Our culture must be distinguishable from the culture down the road, across town, in the other part of the state, across the country, and for us, internationally. 

When someone sees an APG player, they already have an idea of everything they are about to see on and off the field. There are some universal qualities that many clubs/academies/organizations strive for, and there are some that are undeniably unique to their organization. 

It's not always the goal itself, but rather how that goal is achieved, reinforced and sustained. Most organizations, even on common goals, have varying degrees of success. That, in and of itself is part of the culture. Teamwork is a pretty universal goal for example, but that goal is not achieved to equal degree between organizations. How is it defined? How is it achieved? Is it on the field only, or off it as well? 

For the coach, you are the Keeper of the Culture. This requires a nurturing hand as a steward at times, but also an enforcement hand as the protector, and the common mistake I see with most organizations is that they do not grasp the concept of: what you allow is what you endorse. 

Culture then is about boundaries-not negatively, but boundaries that establish our identity. There is a clear distinction of what your culture stands for, emphasizes and promotes and I should be able to distinguish your unique blend of those priorities with relative ease from the outside.

Culture sets those boundaries. Once a boundary is set, something that defines your culture that makes it distinct from the culture down the road, expect it to be tested. That's the job of the player. Because in testing it, there's a chance for it to be communicated and prioritized. Until then, it's just words.

I see coaches all the time get frustrated with athletes that test the boundaries of the culture. I tell them the fault isn't the athlete. The fault is with you, not understanding the roles of the team. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing. You are frustrated because of your expectation- it is the gap between your expectation and reality, that is the source of your frustration. Your expectation is wrong. Expect the fence line to be tested...no matter where you set it. Now when it happens you are prepared and not frustrated and that changes HOW you deal with it, and HOW you deal with it is coaching.