Communication
Let’s explore the significance of effective and clear communication, along with potential pitfalls both on and off the basketball court. Whether in sports, family, school, or work, strong communication skills are essential. The effectiveness of your communication directly impacts the quality of your relationships.
Even small adjustments can lead to significant improvements.
What is communication?
A solid definition is that communication involves a two-way exchange of verbal and non-verbal information aimed at fostering understanding.
Basketball Communication
Communication in basketball is primarily non-verbal and can be infectious. A team that is bitter and divided is easily recognizable, with signs like cliques, negative facial expressions, harsh tones, eye rolls, apathetic movements on the court, and cold interactions off the court. Complaints and criticism often circulate when discussing the team with others.
Conversely, a united team is also evident. There’s joy in greetings and farewells, laughter, and positive energy. Celebrations, comfort, and happy conversations abound, along with respect, active listening, and a spirit of service. Gratitude is expressed when talking about the team.
The strength of communication lies in the fact that we all play a role. Each member is accountable for the quality of communication, and leaders bear the greatest responsibility.
Consider what you are conveying to your coaches. Pay attention to your body language. Are you trying too hard to please your coach? This can lead to a loss of respect, as pandering or seeking attention can detract from your focus on the game and serving the team. Quality coaches prefer your attention on the play, not on seeking personal glory.
If you feel bitterness or anger towards your coach or teammates, don’t underestimate its impact. Negative feelings will inevitably show through your expressions, body language, and overall gameplay.
Choosing between jealousy and friendship is essential. Are you focused on serving your team, or do you desire to be the star? Do you uplift your teammates or compare yourself to them? Your enjoyment of the team correlates directly with your verbal and non-verbal communication on and off the court.
To transform your team dynamic and enhance your love for the game, shift your mindset about your teammates and improve how you communicate with them. Embracing joy, gratitude, hope, enthusiasm, delight, and appreciation can profoundly impact team unity, dedication to your goals, and fulfillment of your purpose.
If you seek a powerful basketball experience, elevate your communication with coaches and teammates.
How Do We Communicate?
We convey our ideas through words, emotions, facial expressions, and body language, with over 90% of our communication being non-verbal. Our inner dialogue shapes our subconscious actions, influencing our expressions, tone of voice, and body language.
The quality of our relationships can be gauged by both verbal and non-verbal interactions. Consider your most challenging relationship on the court. The difficulties may stem from your communication style and the non-verbal cues exchanged between you. What understanding are you both trying to convey?
Relationship expert John Gottman identifies several ways communication can go awry, both on and off the court. One of the most detrimental is “negative sentiment override,” a mindset characterized by criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling.
Negative sentiment override fosters destructive communication, often unconsciously driven by poor habits, such as:
- Harsh Startup: Starting conversations with complaints instead of gratitude or encouragement.
- Lack of Emotional Intelligence: Laughing when one should listen, pushing away when one should approach, or assigning blame when comfort is needed.
- Ignoring Emotional Bids: An emotional bid is a request for a specific emotional response. Rejecting these bids can lead to misunderstandings—like responding with anger when someone is sad or offering criticism instead of support.
Effective communication requires active listening, focus, and attention. Here are some common communication barriers with coaches or teammates:
- Distraction: Not fully listening or remembering key points.
- Staging: Asking questions merely to set up a conversation for personal gain.
- Forgetting: Repeatedly needing reminders about important relationship aspects.
- Power Imbalance: One-sided conversations that focus only on yourself.
- Complaints: Complaining distances us from others and fosters loneliness.
What Builds Strong Communication?
- Attention: Pay attention to what the other person values. Coaches appreciate specific actions—identify what matters to them.
- Follow the Energy: Observe where conversations gain or lose momentum to understand motivations and passions.
- Remember What Matters: Keep track of important conversation points, perhaps by writing them down. Remembering what others value is crucial for strong teams.
- Creativity: Formulate engaging and thought-provoking questions to elevate conversations from mediocre to transformative.
We change our world when we change our words.
About Sports Pattrens LLC Basketball
Since 1992, Sports Pattrens LLC Basketball has been dedicated to creating camps that nurture the whole athlete—mentally, emotionally, relationally, physically, and spiritually. We strive for athletes to excel not just on the court, but also in their relationships and mental resilience. For more information about Sports Patterns LLC Basketball, visit our website.www.sportsppaternsllc.com