Thinking outside the box as a coach

This week marks the beginning of the high school wrestling season in Wisconsin. I was fortunate to take part in the starting process for a few schools this year. I saw some new, innovative ideas as well as many mediocre and stagnant approaches that are prevalent in our sport.

The best programs and best coaches are creative. They communicate well and have passion and commitment, however, they have the secret ingredient that's also available to everyone else: the desire to think outside the box.

Coaches and leaders discuss ideas to spur "outside the box" thinking. They're often interested in trying something new. They claim to be looking for real innovation, genuine creativity and ideas to give them an advantage over their competition or build a program with the numbers to compete with basketball, hockey and other opportunities offered in their community. However, most aren't really looking for something "outside the box." What they're really looking for is a way to continue selling the same thing in a different way. For something that makes their current "box" a little bigger so it can hold more of the same stuff. Or they want short term, quick fix solutions using the "box" analogy. They want some nice wrapping paper and a pretty ribbon to make the old "box" look new. Thinking outside the box often requires something entirely different than what we're used to.

Sport is inherently conservative and therefore it doesn't progress as quickly as it could. Many educated and capable leaders choose the status quo because it's comfortable and predictable. They opt to do things the way they've always been done. Many times, in spite of the best solution being obvious and readily available, we don't take it, preferring instead to adopt the solution that ruffles the least amount of feathers or causes the fewest waves.

Success in sports is about daring to be different, taking intelligent risks and taking the lead in introducing real breakthroughs by being unique, more innovative and creative than your competition. Coaches who chose comfortable complacency over celebrating creativity are hard pressed in the growth process. Doing what everyone else is doing is boring and results in mediocrity.

So, how do we think outside the box?

1. Look at other sports.
In most sports, coaches are stuck in their ways. If they consider a different approach, it's probably from another coach within their sport. Thanks to the Internet, anyone can find anything at any time for free, so the chances of finding a winning edge or breakthrough by looking within your sport is very low. Look at other sports, other coaches and other athletes outside your sport for athletic principles that can be applied to all areas of life and sport. Every above average wrestling coach watches the Technique Wave on FloWrestling. How many are picking the cross country coach's brain to understand periodized training at a higher level?

2. Look beyond sports.
Sports are a very small part of society. There are many other professionals who perform with precision in high pressured situations on a daily basis. There are great teachers who have mastered scenario based learning and differentiated educational plans in order to maximize the learning potential of every student. Anyone who is successful in an endeavor possess desire and drive similar to that of a successful athlete. They can all help take your coaching abilities to a new level. Take 20 minutes to view one of many TED Talks and you'll quickly understand that if you're only looking to sports to help you become a better coach, you've only just scratched the surface.

3. Look inside.
As human beings, we have an unlimited capacity to love and imagine. We're only limited by our willingness. Creativity is taking your imagination and dreams and turning them into actions and behaviors. Ignoring that "little voice" with all of the ideas and crazy thoughts is limiting your potential and keeping you from being the man or woman you were created to be. Who we are is on the inside, so let your light shine. Successful coaches use their strengths and ideas effectively. They don't try to be the person their coach or mentor was.

This is what it looks like to think outside the box:

Nissan - Wouldn't It Be Cool - Sentra 2013 from danDifelice on Vimeo.