Great teams create an environment and culture that allow players to unlock their potential.  Outside of sport, where we grow up, who we socialize with, and what our family structure is often shapes our personality.  There’s no doubt that a strong and positive environment can be a major factor in determining success, however environment isn’t everything.

As a coach, or organization, it is your job to try to create the best possible environment for your players.  The signs in the locker room, the practice facilities, and the marketing of the team, can all have a great impact on the performance of an athlete.  Don’t take for granted the ability to shape environment and give athletes the best opportunity for success.

As a player you often have little control over your environment.  You don’t pick your team, your teammates, the coaches, where you play, etc.  In fact, we may be forced into certain environments that we have little control over.  It’s often in those situations where excuses manifest and frustration takes over.  Examples like, “my team doesn’t care about winning”, or this team “isn’t any good”, or “nobody takes this seriously”, are real examples of environment dictating attitude.

As a player figure out how you can have the best possible attitude even in the worst possible environment.    Let your attitude be a driving force in changing the environment for the better.  Often when our environment is poor, we fall into the trap of allowing ourselves to blend into that poor environment.

If your environment is a 2 out of 10 and your attitude is a 4 out of 10 then you may be contributing to the poor environment.  However, if you take that 2 environment and improve your attitude to a 7 then maybe you can improve your environment.  It’s a simple change that can often be the difference between winning and losing.  Make the change and improve your attitude and environment today.

As the great Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.”