Tubby Smith

On March 1^st, I posted a blog about Tubby Smith bringing in a Leadership Catalyst (sports psychologist) after winning only 3 of 10 Big Ten games.  On the eve of the final four, it’s time to assess whether the team really improved after that. 

The gophers showed dramatic improvement, winning 7 of their last 10 conference games.  They ended up beating every Big Ten team making the NCAA tournament, including impressive wins in the Big Ten Tournament against #11 MSU and #6 Purdue, which won the gophers their own invitation to the “Big Dance”.  They were the only team in the nation to beat two of the Final Four teams (Butler and MSU) and beat teams that beat Duke (Wisconsin) and beat West Virginia (Purdue).  According to the Algebraic Transitive Property of Inequalities (see proof below), that makes the Gophers the best team in the nation.  

There you have it – mathematical (and tongue in cheek) proof that the Gophers are #1.

Congratulations Tubby, on your 17^th consecutive 20 win season (21W – 14L)!

LEADERSHIP CATALYST TIPS  

According to the Transitive Property of Inequalities,

If a < b and b < c, then a < c

 Likewise: 

If a > b and b > c, then a > c 

If Minnesota > Wisconsin and Wisconsin > Duke, then Minnesota > Duke 

If Minnesota > Purdue, and Purdue > West Virginia, then Minnesota > West Virginia 

Minnesota > Butler 

Minnesota > Michigan State 

Therefore, 

Minnesota > All Final Four Teams 

The post Algebraic Proof that Tubby Smith’s Gophers became the Best Team in the Country after working with a Leadership Catalyst! appeared first on Brian L. Davis, Ph.D | Vistage Chair.

In an effort to find a remedy to the mental breakdowns his team was having with the game on the line, coach Smith brought in a sports psychologist according to Myron Medcalf of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Players report that he taught them to use “positive affirmations” and envision good outcomes in tough stretches.  They further claim that the approach helped them survive a late game surge by the fighting Illini in a 62-60 victory on Saturday.  

For many, “positive affirmation” conjures up images of  SNL’s Stuart Smally (aka Senator Al Franken) looking into the mirror and saying “…and darn it, people like me”.  However, there is a lot more science to them than that,  and no doubt you have recently observed Olympians mentally rehearsing flawless performances on the slopes and on the ice before they compete.   This same technique works in coaching executives before  tough board meetings or  critical or contentious negotiations.

LEADERSHIP CATALYST TIPS

To increase the odds of success for executives in these critical situations, help them:

• Imagine themselves in the situation
• Anticipate the tough questions and challenges they likely will encounter
• Visualize themselves calmly and effectively responding to those challenges
• Practice responding to those challenges with someone playing an adversarial role.

The bottom line is that effective coaches and business leaders recognize when their teams are not performing up to potential, and do not hesitate to find a catalyst to help them get back on track.

The post Tubby Smith, U of MN BB Coach, Hires Catalyst appeared first on Brian L. Davis, Ph.D | Vistage Chair.