My wife said something profound at the funeral for her grandmother last month. She said of her grandma, "She believed in me no matter what. I was always the smartest, most beautiful, most wonderful to her. You have got to have someone who loves you like that even if they are wrong--especially if they are wrong!" Oh the importance of someone believing in you--believing in the best of you. That belief tends to bring out the best in all of us.

I think of two very different coaches that I played for growing up. One was our football coach, Mike Mahlen, I believe the winningest High School football coach in the state of Minnesota. The other was our basketball coach. In football we won nearly ever game, in basketball we won one game and lost sixteen my senior year. I am not saying it was all the coaches fault, but there was a clear difference in the two. There former really believed in each player as an athlete and as a good young man. His belief brought out the best. In basketball few felt believed in and we lost.

On your team and in your family, believe the best for those around you. If you do, you might just get their best!

Labels: Leaderrship, relationships, teams