Coaching Blind Spots: How Bias Can Destroy Team Chemistry
"The most important member of the team, is the team." - John Wooden
As coaches, teachers, and leaders we all want to have high achievement for our athletes, students, and workers. But when the leader shows bias for one group of athletes, students, or workers then the chemistry that each group had is destroyed. Team chemistry is a very fragile thing, and it should be respected by everyone, but the person who holds the key to success is the leader of the team.
We all have preferences, notice I didn't say favorites. The term favorites is a vague term. Whereas the term preferences is more direct, it is what we prefer rather than another set of traits. Preferences are perfectly normal to have, but if these preferences become shown or known to those we lead, then that becomes known as bias. This is a dangerous thing to have shown or known to those we lead. For those of us that are a little confused between a preference or bias, here is the definition of bias. Bias is being in favor of one thing and against another thing and often in an unfair manner.
As you can see, bias is very dangerous due to the unfair manner of it. Having a prejudiced or unfair opinion on someone is not only wrong but damaging to that person and the high achievement environment that you are trying to create. To create an environment that is not biased, the leader must not have a biased mindset. Like I stated before, it is okay to have preferences, but it is not okay to have these preferences become a definite truth without doing research. This research must be done through data. That is the beauty of data, data doesn't lie, whereas humans do. But if you have an open minded conversation of asking the question of why that opinion is correct, and look at the data of that individual or student, then true conclusions can be made.
Now let's look at ways to prevent bias. The best way to prevent bias from happening is having an expectation for high achievement to happen. High achievement for each individual has each individual for reach their own potential. If these individuals reach their potential, that only lifts the success of the team even higher. If you have a mindset of high achievement then bias is not even an option for you. As the leader, you focus on making each individual on your team better every day. Another way to prevent bias is to make it a point to talk to someone different every day. Ask your student-athletes how they are doing, how they are doing in school, or ask them how their family is doing. These questions show the student-athlete that they matter to the leader. A popular quote around the coaching and teaching world is, an athlete or student doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care. This is very important in order to create a healthy environment with your team. A team that doesn't feel biased, doesn't create cliques, and doesn't create a negative ripple effect with the team.
An important reminder for a leader to do is when he or she senses that they are being biased, that they keep some sort of reminder for them. Have in your lesson plan or practice notes to not be biased. Prevention of bias allows growth for not just a few individuals, but for the many. To prevent bias from happening, it must start at the top. The leader must set the example for the rest of the team to follow suit. What you as the leader allow, that habit will become part of the culture of the team. So keep this last point in mind, have your team treat others the way that they want to be treated. This is otherwise known as the Golden Rule. This is a simple rule that we all have known since childhood, but is still powerful to this day.
As you can see, bias is very dangerous due to the unfair manner of it. Having a prejudiced or unfair opinion on someone is not only wrong but damaging to that person and the high achievement environment that you are trying to create. To create an environment that is not biased, the leader must not have a biased mindset. Like I stated before, it is okay to have preferences, but it is not okay to have these preferences become a definite truth without doing research. This research must be done through data. That is the beauty of data, data doesn't lie, whereas humans do. But if you have an open minded conversation of asking the question of why that opinion is correct, and look at the data of that individual or student, then true conclusions can be made.
Now let's look at ways to prevent bias. The best way to prevent bias from happening is having an expectation for high achievement to happen. High achievement for each individual has each individual for reach their own potential. If these individuals reach their potential, that only lifts the success of the team even higher. If you have a mindset of high achievement then bias is not even an option for you. As the leader, you focus on making each individual on your team better every day. Another way to prevent bias is to make it a point to talk to someone different every day. Ask your student-athletes how they are doing, how they are doing in school, or ask them how their family is doing. These questions show the student-athlete that they matter to the leader. A popular quote around the coaching and teaching world is, an athlete or student doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care. This is very important in order to create a healthy environment with your team. A team that doesn't feel biased, doesn't create cliques, and doesn't create a negative ripple effect with the team.
An important reminder for a leader to do is when he or she senses that they are being biased, that they keep some sort of reminder for them. Have in your lesson plan or practice notes to not be biased. Prevention of bias allows growth for not just a few individuals, but for the many. To prevent bias from happening, it must start at the top. The leader must set the example for the rest of the team to follow suit. What you as the leader allow, that habit will become part of the culture of the team. So keep this last point in mind, have your team treat others the way that they want to be treated. This is otherwise known as the Golden Rule. This is a simple rule that we all have known since childhood, but is still powerful to this day.
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