![]() So perhaps the first step in understanding how to bring a Performance Therapy Methodology into a team sport culture is to ensure that we respect the uniqueness of this culture – understand the distinct requirements of the sport, the organization, the team, and the coaches and athletes within it. Nor were they comfortable with the imposed top-down, autocratic manner in which we attempted to employ these changes. Everyone knew that change was required – but no one was comfortable with the rate of the change we had implemented. Our seeming rationality simply did not mesh with the emotions of those who were imbedded within the system. Upon many years of reflection (yes – it took that long!), it became more and more clear that this top-down, prescriptive strategy – while potentially fast and focused – was far too volatile. Instead, we made sweeping changes, immediately implementing new methods, firing and hiring staff, and imposing a system into a culture we knew relatively little about.Īfter a successful competitive season, it became clear that the changes that were implemented – or at least how quickly these changes were enacted – were unsustainable, and both myself and Nick lost our jobs. ![]() Both the magnitude and the rate of change was high – and when this is the case, as we were to find out – we need to ensure that the strategies that are put in place respect the current culture. In our opinions, there was significant change required, and little time to implement it. Along with my colleague Nick Ward (then the BCS Performance Director – now the ALTIS Programs Director), I helped to implement a number of system-wide changes, in an effort to help bring the Federation to where we thought was a more appropriate performance mindset. To help highlight these broader questions, I’ll share an example of where I screwed it up.īack in 2004-05, I had a leadership role at Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) – the National Governing Body for the Canadian National bobsleigh and skeleton teams. To do this we have to take a few steps back, and first answer questions related to change psychology, cultural dynamics, management strategies, etc. ![]() While I think I’m pretty confident in how this could be done effectively, we first need to understand the difference between what is ‘optimal’ and what is ‘practically applicable’. I have been thinking about this for a few years now and our team here at ALTIS recently sat down to discuss it at some length. How can we employ a Performance Therapy Methodology (systems thinking) in a team sport environment? ![]()
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