Leading Players - The Manager's Playbook

LEADING PLAYERS

THE MANAGER’S PLAYBOOK

“PEOPLE

ASK WHY WE DON’T JUST MAKE THE PLAYERS RUN AND RUN. IT’S ALWAYS THE SAME PRINCIPLE, THE PIANIST DOESN’T TRAIN BY RUNNING ROUND THE PIANO.”

JOSÉ MOURINHO

HELP PLAYERS UNDERSTAND & MANAGE STRESS

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HELPING PLAYERS WITH “THE WEIGHT” OF TRAINING, PLAYING AND CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

In the module of ‘Leading Self’ we talked about the stress or allostatic load that Managers and Coaches carry and when that load is too great there are consequences for both the brain and the body via the neuroendocrine, autonomic, immune and metabolic systems. These systems are responsible for either successful adaption to stress or the development of pathology due to the burden of stress. Another way to think about allostatic load is in terms of “the weight” that the environment requires people to carry and their body’s capacity to anticipate and predict the load and respond accordingly.

For players “the weight” comes in the form of emotional exhaustion that is a consequence of continuous expectations, positional competition, selection, contract uncertainty, transfers, limited time for recovery, the weight of fans, the impact of social media, family pressures and perhaps the heaviest weight of all, inner criticism.

A COVID football environment only exacerbates “the weight” for players because many of the usual rest, recovery and rejuvenation strategies are simply not possible due to COVID safety and risk concerns. Additionally, the continuous worry and anxiety surrounding possible COVID infection for oneself and loved ones only adds to the emotional exhaustion.

The cumulative and enduring weight of psychological and emotional demands can often lead to unproductive coping strategies (problem drinking, drugs, gambling, porn, gaming) all of which can add to players feeling further isolated, alone and unable to be at their best as a person or as a player.

As a Manager, there are some key messages that you can deliver that will make a difference.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

LET PLAYERS KNOW THAT YOU VALUE THEM AS PEOPLE FIRST AND FOOTBALLERS SECOND (AND MEAN IT)

1. Good relationships are the rich soil in which people grow and develop. Growthfostering relationships begin when you communicate to the player you care about them as a person regardless of what happens in football.

2 Growth-fostering relationships result from providing each player a safe place that promotes self-worth, provides trust and psychological safety. Make the same effort with all players and reduce exceptionalism (special rules for certain players).

3 Follow the Latin maxim “facta non verba” which means “deeds not words”. It is important that you keep the promises you make. Never belittle, insult or publicly ridicule a player or allow a staff member to do so, because it will very quickly kill relationships.

4 Be interested in your players as people by knowing about their culture, family history, values and interests. Help players become more self-aware and encourage personal growth and self-reflection. You will find this has significant benefits on and off the field.

REMIND PLAYERS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE IDENTITY (AS A FOOTBALLER)

1. Having a very tight, unidimensional sense of identity comes at a high price; physically, psychologically, emotionally and socially. Let players know that you value them and encourage them to actively engage in the other important roles of husband, partner, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, community leader and mentor.

2. Encourage players to be active participants in these roles when and where they can because these roles provide a source of relaxation and rejuvenation.

3. Role flexibility is key to both healthy athlete self-concept (how a player feels about themselves) and self-esteem (how people feel about themselves in relation to others). Healthy identities that are multi-dimensional have a greater stress-buffering effect.

4. During the COVID pandemic it can be more challenging to engage in these other roles because of bubbles and rules but these non-football roles should be encouraged when and where possible and when safe.

HELP PLAYERS REMEMBER THAT OFTEN THE GREATEST ENEMY LIES WITHIN

1. Sometimes players’ fiercest rivals are not the opposition but themselves.

2. The emotional toll of their own expectations and self-criticism can be overwhelming for many players. Eventually, unending self-criticism will be a handbrake, not only to happiness and performance, but also to life. Ultimately, unending self-criticism leads to isolation, emotional exhaustion and eventually loneliness.

3. Remind players that they can have high expectations of themselves and be kind to themselves at the same time. Being kind to oneself means keeping a positive mindset, investing in personal growth, taking time out to be still in mind and body and making time for relationships and social connections.

3. Remind players that they do not have to react to every thought and feeling and that allowing negative self-talk to get its hooks into us, does not help us reach our potential as a person (or as a footballer) or to live our lives according to our values.

MODULE 02

HELP PLAYERS FOCUS ON THEIR VALUED-LIVING PRIORITIES

THE SURPRISING BENEFITS OF KNOWING YOUR VALUES

Knowing what’s important to you is the first step to living a purposeful life.

Philosophers have known for centuries the benefits of living a meaningful life, but in recent years researchers have also provided the scientific basis (or evidence) for the importance of knowing and living your values.

Some of the facts might surprise you – and your Players:

1. Greater life purpose predicts lower levels of allostatic load – up to 10 years later

2. Reflecting on personal values can keep neuroendocrine and psychological responses to stress at low levels (compared to people who don’t reflect on their values)

3. People reporting more life purpose have lower levels of chronic inflammation

4. Purpose in life has been associated with healthier endocrine profiles, cardiovascular indicators and restorative sleep

5. Purpose in life predicts better emotional recovery from negative stimuli

Players with a clear life purpose will find it of benefit not only during challenging times like COVID but at other stressful times in their life; or when key decisions are required.

As a Manager you have an opportunity to impact your Players’ ability to better manage stressful situations by encouraging them to focus on identifying and affirming their valued-living priorities.

If you were to engage with your Players in a conversation about what’s important in their life, not only will it improve their ability to manage stress, but they’ll also see that you care about them as a person, not only as a footballer.

Additionally, it will build high levels of trust; strengthen the psychological contract and is likely to see an increase in discretionary effort (performance) and engagement.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR PLAYERS

The following process is a deceptively simple activity that can reap huge physical and psychological benefits.

STEP 1: DID YOU KNOW?

Share with Players (individually or as a group) the benefits of focusing on their personal values and being clear on what is most important in their lives.

Some of the things you might want to share include:

1 There is a clear link between living a meaningful life and your physical and mental health

2. Your values and a clear life purpose can help you during stressful and challenging times because it can help you bounce back more quickly

3. Focusing on what’s important in your life can lessen the “weight” of pressure

4. Your values can help you make important and/or difficult life decisions

STEP 2: WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU – AND WHY?

Your Players can use the following activity to help them identify what is most meaningful to them.

1 Think about your whole life – not just one aspect of it

2. Make a list of the 4-6 areas that are most important to you

3 Think about your experiences in life – in the past, what’s happening in the present, and the life you’d like to lead in the future.

4. For each of the 4-6 areas you’ve identified, write a short sentence on why each area is important to you.

MY VALUED-LIVING PRIORITIES

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME?

Click in the boxes to type notes

Tip: If Players get stuck, it can be helpful to let them know that the types of areas people often write on their list include personal health; family and friends; culture; spirituality; sport; finances; education; making a difference; the environment.

STEP 3:

Suggest to the Player they keep their list visible, so they see it regularly. Places they might want to consider include inside the door of their locker, in their wallet, in their car or on the fridge.

FIND OUT MORE

R.Cohen, C.Bavishi, A.Rozanski, Purpose in life and its relationship to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events: A meta-analysis. Psychosom. Med. 78, 122-133 (2016)

S.Zilioli, R.B. Slatcher, A.D.Ong, T.L. Gruenewald, Purpose in life predicts allostatic load ten year later. J.Psychosom.Res. 79, 451-457 (2015).

S.M.Schaefer, et al., Purpose in life predicts better emotional recovery from negative stimuli. PLoS One 8 (2013)

J.D. Creswell, et al., Affirmation of personal values buffers neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses. Psychol.Sci. 16, 846-851 (2005).

LOCK IN THE TRUTED CIRCLE

THE SCIENCE OF CONNECTIONS

A growing body of research – across a number of academic domains – has uncovered some of the key benefits of having trusted and positive relationships in our lives.

In 2012 Harvard University published the results of one of the longest running studies on human development in history. Findings from the study of individuals (that they had tracked for over 70 years) showed that wellbeing and health outcomes were directly linked to the quality of relationships in a person’s life. The quality of relationships had a far bigger impact on health and wellbeing than other variables including wealth, fame, working hard or other demographic factors.

Further compelling findings on the link between relationships and health were provided in a 2010 meta-analytic review of 148 studies. This extensive meta-analysis concluded that “the influence of social relationships on the risk of death are comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality such as smoking and alcohol consumption and exceed the influence of other risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity.”

It is also clear that certain types of relationships are more beneficial to our health and wellbeing than others.

The quality of relationships in our lives is more important than the quantity, and trust is a key ingredient as we know that when we have people in our lives we can trust, it gives us a feeling of safety and security which is even more important during stressful or challenging times. Additionally, relationships that are unhealthy, negative or unsafe can have a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing.

In other words – it’s who you have in your “trusted circle” that matters. For Players, being clear on who’s in their trusted circle and nurturing those relationships will not only have benefits for their health and wellbeing but can be another important resistance resource to draw on when times get tough.

For Players, it can be important for them to think about their relationships outside of football as they might often neglect or underestimate how important these relationships are to them.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR PLAYERS

STEP 1: RELATIONSHIPS MATTER – BUT SOME MATTER MORE

The “Trusted Circle” visual below can be a great way of helping players think about the impact –positive and negative – that different relationships can have on them. You can share the visual or draw the “Trusted Circle” below.

Explain that the people in the centre have the most positive impact on us because they make us feel safe and valued.

Ask the Player to explain their thoughts on the difference in the relationships at the different layers of the circle – and the types of impact (positive and negative) that people in the different parts of the circle can have on them.

You might want to explain to the Player that our body and brain reacts to the different relationships and connections in our life. We can think of it as our “neural alarm system” – when we’re in the “red zone” our system thinks we’re under threat and can trigger the stress response either through the nervous system or the endocrine system. We also see this when we feel disconnected from people or lonely.

When we’re with people in our trusted circle, we feel safe and secure and spending time with them activates our brain’s reward system.

STEP 2: WHO’S IN YOUR TRUSTED CIRCLE?

Ask Players to think about the people in their lives who really know them. The ones that let them be their real selves; who appreciate who they are (not just what they do) and the ones who they know they can always trust.

Once the Player has had an opportunity to reflect on their relationships, ask them to talk about one person that is in their trusted circle – and why.

STEP 3: TAKING CARE OF YOUR TRUSTED CIRCLE

Knowing who’s in your Trusted Circle is important but so too is nurturing these relationships to make sure they’re not taken for granted or neglected.

Ask the Player to make a list of the practical ways they can nurture the relationships in their trusted circle. They might say things like:

1. I’m going to get in touch with the people in my trusted circle and let them know why they’re important to me

2 I’m going to make time in my diary for a call or catch up with each of my Trusted Circle over the next few months

3 When I’m with people in my Trusted Circle, I’m going to give them my full attention and not get distracted

Now ask the Player to think about how their Trusted Circle can provide them with support during challenging times. They might say things like:

1. When I’m feeling down or worried, I can give one of them a call and I know they’ll make me feel better

2 When I’ve got an important decision to make or a problem to solve, I know they’ll give me good advice

3 If I’m feeling like I might be making some choices that aren’t great for me, I know they’ll help me get back on track – or stay on track

FIND OUT MORE

Valient, G.E. (2012). Triumps of Experience. The men of the Harvard Grant study. Belknap Press: World

Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B and Layton, J.B (2010). Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Med, 7(7)

Eisenberger, N.I. and Cole, S.W. (2012). Social neuroscience and health: neurophysiological mechanisms linking social ties with physical health. Nature Neuroscience, 15 (5), 669-674

J.D. Creswell, et al., Affirmation of personal values buffers neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses. Psychol.Sci. 16, 846-851 (2005).

Banks, A. and Hirschman, L.A. (2015). Four ways to click. Rewire your brain for stronger, more rewarding relationships. Allen and Unwin.

MODULE 04

INSPIRE PERSONAL GROWTH INITIATIVE AMONG PLAYERS

UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL GROWTH INITIATIVE

Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) is a major stress-buffering resource that all players can access with the right education, guidance and support.

PGI is defined as intentional involvement in changing and developing as a person.

PGI occurs when a person thinks and acts on purpose rather than incidentally. This an important difference from personal growth, where someone may be aware of personal growth, but does not explicitly and intentionally engage in personal growth behaviours. While much of human development and change is simply a by-product of living one’s life and continuing to be open to experiences, intentional self-change, which is inherent in PGI, is distinctly different.

Research suggests that people who grow unintentionally will have lower levels of positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, and purpose in life than people who grow intentionally. The obvious implication is that PGI has positive personal and professional implications for all players (and coaching staff).

PGI is composed of transferable skills that are general skills for personal growth that can be used in a variety of growth settings. These skills are transferable because the process of personal growth is similar across life domains.

There are four key areas to PGI:

1. Readiness for Change

2 Planfulness

3. Using Resources

4 Intentional Behaviour

PGI research is even more compelling when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.

PGI actually predicts mental health and wellbeing.

Individuals high on Personal Growth Initiative have positive mental health, a lack of mental illness and overall higher life satisfaction and better wellbeing. Therefore they are likely to have lower levels of stress because they have greater stress-buffering resources.

Conversely, those low on PGI (compared to those high on PGI) have poorer mental health, are more likely to have experience a mental illness, lower levels of life satisfaction and have poorer wellbeing.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

READ THE PGI RESEARCH AND MAKE PGI A PRIORITY AT YOUR CLUB

PGI Research makes a compelling case for all players at your club to intentionally invest in their personal development. There are flow-on effects for individual players and coaching staff, regardless of their playing or employment status. The benefits will continue long after a playing career has ended and will be particularly helpful when players transition to life after football.

Perhaps the biggest benefit for making PGI a priority at your club will be what it will do for the culture of the club. When people are investing in PGI they are investing in their potential as a person and as a player. When people feel like they are growing and developing that creates an infectious, positive, can-do culture that players and staff will want to be a part of.

ASK A SENIOR MEMBER OF YOUR COACHING STAFF OR PLAYER CARE TEAM TO START A PGI PROJECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE PLAYING GROUP AND COACHING STAFF

Players will engage with PGI if they understand why and how it is beneficial to them. Players’ engagement with PGI will be even higher if the message about PGI comes from you or one of your coaching staff. Further, if you actively discuss your own PGI plans, players will know that is more than talk and that you genuinely walk the walk.

EDUCATE PLAYERS AND STAFF ON PGI AND GET THEM TO UNDERTAKE THEIR OWN PGI PROJECT

At this point in time there has been little application of PGI in sporting organisations despite the overwhelming evidence of its benefit. If you see yourself as an innovator looking for sources of competitive advantage through people, relationships and team culture you should consider making PGI a club priority.

Educating the playing group about PGI and getting them to develop their own PGI will be a powerful combination as it provides a source of stress buffering, builds player relationships and a positive team culture, promotes holistic wellbeing and positive mental health.

Now the rest is really up to you.

FIND OUT MORE

ARTICLE: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II

VIDEO: ‘More than Marginal Gains’: How Studying Boosts Athletes

DOWNLOAD: Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS)

“ROBERTO MANCINI DEFINES THE CAPTAIN AS ‘THE PLAYER WHO HAS RESPECT FROM ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS; WHO CREATES A TEAM SPIRIT’.”

SAM ALLARDYCE