Latest / UNCOACHED / Building Better Teammates: Leadership, Accountability, and Team Culture
Transcript
- Welcome to Uncoached, a podcast for volunteer coaches and parents figuring out youth sports as we go. Each episode we keep things simple. Five questions to talk about practical insights you can actually use with your youth athletes. Today's guest is Donnie Johnson. He's a former two sport collegiate all-american leadership speaker. Brad (00:32) And the author of a new book called The Plus One Culture. Donnie's work focuses on building environments where people take ownership, they lead by example, and to make those around them better. Today we're talking about how those same principles apply to youth sports from developing leadership and accountability and young athletes to building a team culture where everyone contributes to something bigger than themselves. Donnie, thanks so much for being here. I love the book. I love the topic here of building leaders on a team. Brad (01:00) Do me a favor and just give the give the audience your background and an introduction coming from from yourself. Donnie Johnson (01:07) Thank you, Brad. appreciate it. I appreciate you having me on. I I quick background on myself. grew up playing multiple sports. was able to and fortunate enough to play football and baseball in college. Went on to play one season of Myor League baseball before I realized that wasn't going to pay the bills. And I've been coaching ever since. So, with that being said, I I did just write a book. it is coming out here in a couple of days. Donnie Johnson (01:30) maybe but already out by the time this comes out. But it is something that's been on my mind for over a dozen years. I mean I've been coaching for almost 20 years. On and off multiple sports, multiple levels. you name it. I've I've pretty much seen it done it. So with that being said, this book is something that came to fruition this year. I just sat down and and started doing it. And it's been a crazy five months of the impact it's had on just the way I think. Donnie Johnson (01:57) The way I see things and I'm I I cannot wait to share it with everybody. Brad (02:01) Yeah, and congratulations. getting a book published, you you've got you've probably had all this stuff kicking around your mind for, like you said, twenty years, but even in your in your playing years, I'm sure you had this stuff and just to to get that organized down on paper and published is a big feat. So congratulations. I'm excited to read it myself. Brad (02:19) So speaking of the book, it's built around this idea of everyone making the people around them better and building leadership. So maybe you give me a little synopsis here of what does the plus one culture actually look like on a youth sports team and how can coaches start building a culture like that? Donnie Johnson (02:36) Yeah, so let's let's step back. So if if you asked what culture means to somebody, you're gonna get ninety-nine different answers out of a Brad (02:44) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (02:44) hundred people. And and that's the the the goods and and the bad of it. but culture when you c break it down is ultimately what a group consistently values, rewards, tolerates, and repeats. those four things. So what you celebrate, you celebrate what matters, what you tolerate that just becomes what's acceptable. Donnie Johnson (03:05) and then what you repeat just becomes normal. And and then obviously anything else, I mean that's what matters to you is the culture. And whether that's good or bad is up to you. so that's the theory behind it. the plus one culture is pretty much taking that, taking all those pieces and making sure that everybody is part of that. that you're making everybody better. the theory behind it when I first got started was is that if Donnie Johnson (03:32) If I walk into a room and maybe I'm a I've got a level eight player, eight ranking on a scale of ten, if that player is a plus one to everybody around them, they have a better impact than maybe a nine, even though their skill set may not be there. Their impact to the team is just better. So how do you get everybody on that team, whether they're a five or six or seven, whatever it may be, and how do you get them to keep adding value to those people around them? Whether it be through attitude, hustle, Donnie Johnson (04:01) Just you name it, how do you add that value? And and each kid is gonna be different. and I say kid, I mean this is not just for sports Brad (04:09) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (04:10) teams. This is goes into the work environments, et cetera. So this is a not just a a baseball book. it's a leadership book, but that's that's the theory behind it. Brad (04:20) No, that's good. And and maybe you could, break it down for me. I haven't had a chance to read it. Like I said, I'm excited to so so when you say plus one, in my mind I'm thinking hey, this is this is the stuff you can do beyond what you're doing as an athlete to make people better, right? Be a good teammate, encourage, celebrate. is that it do I have that right? Like that's the plus one that you're talking about. Like, hey, be yourself, but like create an environment where you're actually helping somebody else and give it that plus. Donnie Johnson (04:48) Yeah, and and that's exactly it. and it it's all the things that are extra. I mean I I'm a challenger when it comes down a challenger leader. when it came down to it, I mean when was playing when I was coming up, I was the guy that was gonna bust your butt. and I was gonna let you know about it. If you were Brad (05:02) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (05:02) not putting in the work, I was gonna let you know. Meanwhile, we've got other guys that I I talk about in the book. we had one guy in particular, when I first got to my alma mater, Donnie Johnson (05:13) Our team was on the turnaround and there was a lot of things that did not go well that first year as we struggled to kind of turn the ship around. but he was the guy that if somebody made a bad play, if somebody came made a bad choice on the base path and and and Lord help us if he got the third out at third type situation, like the coaches on your butt. Brad (05:33) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (05:33) but he was the guy that would come over and just start talking to you and and get a smile on your face, turn you back around. Donnie Johnson (05:39) And there's people that are like that. and I just learned from that how to make that happen. And and I elaborate a little bit more in the book about that, is it's not just a situation where you just don't make the situation worse, is how do you turn that into a a positive and not just for that person, but for everybody around them. and make it into a a hey, it's a learning lesson. Let's turn it, let's turn it into a good situation, we're gonna get it right the next time and we're gonna Brad (06:05) Yeah, no, I I love it. it's a little bit of this mentality of of leave something better than you left it. You know, I when I was younger, right? I Donnie Johnson (06:11) Nailed nailed it right there. Brad (06:12) yeah. I mean, grew up younger, much younger, did some Cub Scouts and Boy Scout stuff, but that was always kind of the thing, right? Like you go somewhere, leave that place better than where you found it. And the same can go for how you interact with people too, which is which is really cool. And I do I want to go back to something earlier that you said too about culture. I love the pillars that, you know, how you defined culture. And what stuck out to me is Brad (06:34) Is the repeats part of that. it's one thing I think for coaches to say, hey, this, these are the pillars. This is what matters to me. But it's the repeat part of putting that into action with a team and making sure that you're really, you know, living that and trying to live that every time that you're on the field or or rink or court, wherever you're at. it's the repetition that really builds that culture. So I think that's super important. I and I haven't heard it Brad (06:58) defined or phrased that way and I just I I wanted to just say I really appreciate the way that you approach that with your definition. Donnie Johnson (07:04) It's one of the things you just don't really think about because it becomes normal. Brad (07:07) Right. Right. Donnie Johnson (07:08) if something goes wrong you think about that, that's that's when, hey, that's that's a memory. But when everything's going right, that's just that's just the way we did it. Brad (07:16) Course. Donnie Johnson (07:17) and and good or bad, just if what's ever repeated is the culture. Brad (07:21) Yeah, absolutely. And and you've talked about you know, leadership, you know, doesn't necessarily require that title. Like you don't have to be told, hey, you are the leader of this team, or like you're the manager of your team at work. How can coaches develop leadership in every player, including the kids who aren't necessarily the most talented or outspoken? Because I I think, you know, when I think some people probably identify with a leader on team being like that best player that's out there, but I don't Brad (07:50) I don't think that that has to be the leader on the team. Everybody in some way can be that leader. So maybe you could talk a little bit about that. Donnie Johnson (07:57) Yeah, so I kinda just got into it just a second ago. just it's not every leader type i is going to be covered by by everybody. like I said, I was a challenger. I mean, there's others that and I I pushed myself and was normally pretty I was pretty good at the sport, whatever, just was what it was. But there's also those that lead different ways, whether it be through just consistency, encouragement, service, awareness. I mean, things like that that Donnie Johnson (08:24) Some people are just better at it. there's a reason that people go on to become coaches. There's a reason because people come on, they make it to the pros. there's guys that will go on and or gals that will go on to be the accountants of the team, the managers, you I mean, whatever it may be. so you don't have to have that kind of title to be a leader because when you break it down a little bit further, just to be a leader, you just have to have influence. You have to have Brad (08:49) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (08:49) followers. Donnie Johnson (08:51) Bad leaders have followers, whether you like it or not. but at the same time, they they are considered a leader. So to have that leadership title, they just need to be given a voice, a way to do that, a way to express it, whether they're actually talking or not. That's just in theory, the way behind it. give them a chance to show their leadership. And coaches can do that. Donnie Johnson (09:14) by giving them little pieces, whether it be at practice or warm-ups or hey, what what do you think about this? Like you don't have to keep asking the same kid over and over, what do you think about this drill? How do you think that practice went? Like ask somebody new, ask somebody that doesn't speak up and have them do it in front of the team. I think one of the the the the coolest parts in my book and and something that really got me when I was writing it was chapter, I think it's chapter eighteen. Donnie Johnson (09:43) the start of the ripple it was pretty much is it's called handing off the handing of the microphone is that as we were seniors in college, we were tasked by our coach to find who was next, who's the next Brad (09:55) Mm. Donnie Johnson (09:55) leader? Like who are we going to be handed off? We obviously did a great job of turning the program around, getting a winning tradition. and then but we had to graduate. We weren't going to be playing anymore. And Brad (10:06) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (10:07) how are we going to do that? Donnie Johnson (10:09) And so to be able to go and find somebody, Ben Harrison was our character then in the book, how does that happen? Whether they're ready or not, we saw it before they did. And you've got to give them that microphone, it the proverbial microphone, to allow them to express themselves and really find out that leader inside of them. Brad (10:29) Yeah, and I I I'm with you, you know, as a coach, give different players opportunities to lead at various things, even if it's just a warm up at practice. You know, we'll make a concerted effort to ensure that it's a different kid leading our warm up or leading a drill every single time, even the quiet ones. I love picking the quiet kids because they it's they they have to step in front and show a little bit of that leadership. But you know, it doesn't have to always be vocal, and I like your approach there too, because Brad (10:55) There's kids that just grind and they work their butts off. And those kids are leading because they're showing through their actions, not necessarily through their words, about what it takes to, you know, be successful or to to try and drive forward and get better and better. I'll be honest, I found that some of the most successful teams have those youth teams. Let let's talk a little bit youth teams, have those leaders on the field. nothing makes me more happy than when I see some kids step up. Brad (11:21) that they're echoing what they've heard from you as a coach, but Donnie Johnson (11:24) Mm-hmm. Brad (11:24) they're on the field, they're in the play, and it's like, This is awesome, right? I can step back, I can watch you guys play and you're you got it, right? you you guys are the leaders and you're taking over and it and it's it's outstanding. I don't know if you've had the similar experience. I'm sure you have Donnie Johnson (11:38) yeah. I I I could speak to so my daughter, for example, she's seven years old. She's playing in a U ten flag football. So I appreciate podcast the other day about the flag football. Brad (11:47) Sure, yeah. Donnie Johnson (11:48) just because that's that's newer to me and newer to to our family, but but my daughter absolutely one loved it. so she cannot wait to play in the spring. but she was on the lower side of the skill set. Large, tall kid, just following after her parents. Donnie Johnson (12:03) But she did not have the skill set. And so they they kept putting her into situations, obviously chance to score, chance to score, whatever, and she finally did it. And the people that celebrated around her was tremendous, like the the rest of the team, because they knew that she was a seven-year-old playing with nine and ten year olds. and and she really stepped up in the growth throughout the season. For them to see that and for us to see it, it's really impactful. Brad (12:29) That's that's huge. That's awesome. I love to hear that. And while we're on this ki t kind of topic talking about responsibility and leadership and stuff, you know, some folks aren't ready for that leadership, but you kind of push them into the limelight a little bit, I think, as a coach to try and get them out of their comfort zone. You know, maybe you could talk a little bit about some practical ways youth coaches can give players more ownership of their team without losing some of the accountability. Donnie Johnson (12:55) Yeah. so it's a great question, first off. the the thing about the ownership of of the players is not that you're taking away the structure of what the coaches have set and the and the vision and and what they have planned. it's just giving those players responsibility inside of that structure. Brad (13:14) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (13:14) give them responsible responsibility whether they're ready for it or not. we talk about in the book that Donnie Johnson (13:20) there's a Ben go back to the Ben Harrison piece, is that we talk about he wasn't ready. He said he wasn't ready. And we had to give him the confidence in front of people to allow him to voice what he wanted, what he saw for the team. And then that what that's what got the buy in. But he had to borrow confidence from us, Brad (13:40) Mm. Donnie Johnson (13:41) with us behind his back, to make that happen. So it has to be a a joint venture if they're not ready, just knowing that Donnie Johnson (13:49) You have support not just from the coaches, but from the other players. Brad (13:53) No, that's that's pretty powerful. and I was gonna say, you know, on on my side of things, when I think about this too, I see a lot of coaches over coaching. And so if we want kids to take ownership of the team, you know, I think my advice is to give them that space, give the kids that space to think and to grow on their own and not overcoach and always try to joystick a little bit. You know what I'm saying? Donnie Johnson (14:16) Yeah. I use I use a spotter analogy. So if you're at the gym and you need a spotter, same exact type leadership example. if you grab the bar too soon, they'll never discover like how good they can be, Brad (14:28) Right. Donnie Johnson (14:29) how strong they are. but obviously if you walk away, they might get crushed. They'll make quit. so there is a obviously a fine line between those two extremes, but that's where that leadership i it lives and needs to live. Donnie Johnson (14:42) is that you have to be able to give them space, but also be able to help them if needed. there's a I forget it's one of the chapters we talk about that in the book is just the the spotter analogy it's in there. So you'll enjoy that part. Because Brad (14:54) Yeah, I love it. Donnie Johnson (14:55) you'll you'll connect with it really well because that's that's exactly what I just said, just on the storyline. Brad (15:00) Yeah, no, I that's a that's a fantastic antidote for it. I I absolutely love that. hadn't thought about that before, and so it's a really cool way to look at it. But by doing that, you're developing, some independence and confidence. And so if you really truly are a coach that wants to develop and have your players grow and learn, I think it's absolutely necessary. And and I'll probably steal that from you, the spotter reference, but it's fantastic, man. Donnie Johnson (15:21) How about it? How about it? Brad (15:23) Fantastic. So, you know, we're talking, we talked a little bit about your book, we talked some youth sports. Brad (15:30) I I wanna tap into you and your journey because what a tremendous background that you have as as the all American football, baseball player, multi sport athlete. You know, maybe you could talk a little bit about what you've seen maybe in that journey for yourself that separated talented athletes from the teammates who actually made everyone around them better and kind of led to your thinking on this plus one culture. Donnie Johnson (15:53) Yeah, so that's what one got right got me to write the book. It's just the the journey that I had to go through. So spoiler alert, the first chapter kinda talks about what I had to go through. I was blindsided playing football in high school. on a on a play, dislocated my shoulder, tore my labor about pretty good, pretty much Brad (16:08) Mm. Mm. Donnie Johnson (16:09) was told I would never play competitively again. going from being on the highs of the highs of baseball recruiting to, hey, it's done. Donnie Johnson (16:18) And and so with that being said, I had to go to my school on a football scholarship, and really thought baseball was done. what I really loved. I mean, I liked football, it was okay, but baseball was what I grew up like, hey, this is gonna be it. so with that being said, I went through that first year and and engrossed myself in the gym trying to get better. Donnie Johnson (16:41) And that's where I saw that separation of talent versus what everybody else was doing. And a lot of those football players that it I saw a lot of me attitude. Brad (16:51) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (16:52) I saw a lot of team over me or we is greater than me type atmosphere. we even had shirts that had team over me. We called them team me shirts, ironically, even though it was supposed to be team over me, just the way the shirt came out. It just big team, little little me. Donnie Johnson (17:08) We just called them Team Me shirts. but we understood that that culture that the coaches were trying to to build. And so I started to see that from a lot of the especially the older guys that we had that year. one of the best teams that we had in in in school history, as far as football goes. And it it came down to the way those t those players, those captains, the the real leaders of the team really treated everybody. Donnie Johnson (17:35) they separate themselves by being connectors. They broke up all the clicks of a team. And when you have 120 football players on Brad (17:41) Mm. Donnie Johnson (17:43) on a team, you can only imagine how many separate groups there are. But it's really tough to build a one plus culture or a one just one culture in general if you have various cultures living within side of that. very tough. Donnie Johnson (18:01) And how do you get that overall vision to group everybody together? It's going to take those leaders to be able to walk from group to group and connect everybody. I I've I've called them bridges along the way because they do have those ways of connecting people. Like everybody's gonna come from different bra backgrounds. But those people go in and they ask the important questions like what's your background? Where are you from? What gets you going? Donnie Johnson (18:27) they have those personalities to understand people at a different level. and that's really the impact that you can have across a team is not just bringing the talents, is how do you how do you connect with everybody and get everybody to grow together? whether it be through events, whether it be just through general gatherings, but it's obviously up to the coaches and the players to to be able to figure that part out. Donnie Johnson (18:51) Obviously not so much on the use side because the players don't really they can't just go drive across town. They can hey hey mom, can Brad (18:57) Yeah, right. Donnie Johnson (18:58) I catch a ride? Like or go I'm gonna go ride my bike over. I mean that they still find a way to do it, but they're not Donnie Johnson (19:04) They're I guess. Donnie Johnson (19:05) tasks that they want to achieve don't exactly align with the older groups. Brad (19:10) I I Brad (19:10) I get what you're saying. they have different goals in mind, right? They it's yeah, for sure. sure. Donnie Johnson (19:13) Different priorities. Yeah, different priorities. So Brad (19:16) you said something that was important and maybe for those youth teams to help build that culture. I have I've always encouraged other coaches to to ask questions. I that's what I heard you just say, like ask questions and talk about stuff, but ask stuff not about the sport, like get to into their Brad (19:32) personality, talk about what they like to do outside. You know, is football, is baseball, is that actually their favorite sport or what do they actually gravitate towards? Are they a techie person, right? Like video games That gives you background information that can help you build culture and connection with your team. So I, you know, youth, I I think it's absolutely important that you get to know your players in that way. Donnie Johnson (19:52) Yeah, and it's crazy. it could be anything and everything. it just whatever connects them. I I I I I once again, I mean, I think you've done a great job of asking some of these questions 'cause it seems like you just you already have read my book. but I talk about the the brotherhood that we we bonded in in college and how that happened and how that actually occurred is we obviously had our our groups of of guys, and it started out with the pictures. We would go I mean, now granted this tells you how long ago it was, like roughly twenty something years ago. Donnie Johnson (20:20) were able to go to Hooters on Wednesday nights. obviously a a very friendly place for back in the day for for sports sports meals. Brad (20:28) Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Donnie Johnson (20:31) obviously a fan favorite of the kids. but you could literally go back then on Wednesdays for $9.99 and get all you can eat wings, which kind of tells you how how much has changed in the last 20 years, because that's Brad (20:41) Yeah. Yeah. Donnie Johnson (20:43) not happening. but that's what we did every Wednesday as a pitcher group, and then it expanded. Donnie Johnson (20:49) it expanded into different parts of the group. And next thing we've all got we're all watching the UFC, the Ultimate Fighter, it was taking off. we had the I think the Ultimate Fighter was like a a ongoing like Monday series. We all Brad (21:00) Yeah. Donnie Johnson (21:01) watch those shows together. And then next thing you know, we're all wrestling and being stupid in the dorms and the lockers and I talk about that as well. But that's what bonded us. That's what got us to trust each other. That's what got us to think outside of baseball and make those connections. And Donnie Johnson (21:15) one of the things I'm most excited about this this weekend and the in the book launch is I've got my my three other buddies that are we're we've been tied together. this is our group that has stuck together since college because we believe what each other believes, but we're Brad (21:29) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (21:29) also same part of the same original group, that kind of started it all. because we started that core piece and then expanded it out to others because they needed to be involved, especially if we're gonna be a winning culture. Brad (21:40) That's so cool. really, really cool. I I wanna also tap into the fact that you were a college athlete in two different sports. I think being a college athlete today is tough to do in one sport. And you pick two of the toughest sports, w you know, football and and baseball as far as the path to get there as a collegiate athlete. Can you just talk about, you know, the efforts, the mindset that you had to have to be able to compete in those two things as you Brad (22:08) grew and and worked on, trying to get to that point in your life. Donnie Johnson (22:12) Yeah, I will say that I'll I'll give hats off to the coaches. they were definitely accepting of a schoolwork. So not only was I two sports, I did biology and chemistry as as majors. Brad (22:22) Yeah. Donnie Johnson (22:23) so it was just it was a lot of labs. so granted, I obviously picked and chose my positions with each sport Brad (22:30) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (22:30) very carefully. I grew up playing soccer all my life. was pretty c dang competitive, but Donnie Johnson (22:35) It wasn't gonna pay for college. I was very fortunate enough to get a chance to go kick footballs and found out I could kick the crap out of a football and that paid for college. so I was a kicker and punter, so I had a little bit more flexibility than a lot of the guys. at the same time I was there to compete and be the best that I could be to make my team better. at the same time on the baseball side, I started out as a I had to join the team as a as a shortstop because we had too many pitchers on the team. I just got a chance. Donnie Johnson (23:01) And it's great pardon and chapter one right off the bat tell my story. But I started out as a shortstop, even though I told the coach I was an average shortstop in high school. Like I was not I mean my I I I joke around, but I I'm not joking when my dad used to. He was he was pretty hard on me growing up and and coached me a long time. But he's like, Donnie, if you make another error, I'm gonna spell your name with two E's. so that's what kind of shortstop I was. Brad (23:26) Sure. Donnie Johnson (23:27) But obviously I was decent enough to play my freshman year as as a as a close or as a shortstop and then worked my way into the bullpen, pretty much putting in the work and and after practice to get back to that pitching level after I was thinking my shoulder was done, I couldn't play. Brad (23:43) Mm. Donnie Johnson (23:45) I worked back up but didn't really have a a radar gun just sitting there. I just went there and threw. And I had I was very fortunate enough to have a guy that was a bullpen catcher. Donnie Johnson (23:55) that would help me any time I needed it. I just like, hey, I wanna go throw. I need to go throw. I wanna go throw thirty pitches. Just let me go rip rip it loose. Well, by the time I hop on the mound, I'm throwing low nineties. it's amazing what hitting the gym and and really filling out really Brad (24:09) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (24:10) did for me. I went from throwing eighty something in in high school to hadn't really pitched in two years and then step on the mound and I'm throwing low nineties. Brad (24:19) Well. Donnie Johnson (24:20) so I mean it's it's very fortunate. Donnie Johnson (24:23) Timing was was impeccable. But to kind of get back to your question though, as a closer and everything else, I had to prioritize graduation. So I mean I I debated on whether or not to transfer and go to a bigger school or or find something different. It's not like today's world where you had to you could switch schools three times in three years and try to get the best contract or anything like that. I it was hey, if you transfer, you've got to sit out a year. Donnie Johnson (24:52) And I was like, well, I want graduate in four years and go see where Brad (24:54) Right. Donnie Johnson (24:55) football or baseball can take me, or if not, I'm gonna go start a career. Like I I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be a six year guy or seven year guy or whatever. but the priorities of being able to do that, but also had to communicate with the teachers, the professors, Brad (25:09) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (25:10) to say, Hey, like I've got a game today and fortunately the science building was right beside our baseball field. So I would literally show up to these chemistry labs, Donnie Johnson (25:19) in full on sweats with my Brad (25:21) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (25:21) jersey and uniform underneath, ready to go. And as a closer, I'd probably I'd clean up about the fourth or fifth inning and take off down the field, have all my stuff in the bullpen already. And I'd clean up my my lab space. And I was like, all right, I'll be back later. And I literally go close out a game, do my running, stretching ice, and show back up and finish up my lab for the day. It I mean after hours, but Donnie Johnson (25:45) I just had that grace by just communicating with the the professors. Just say, Hey, this is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna put in the work. I'm not trying to get out of it. Just let me do it. And it worked out well. Brad (25:56) Yeah, man, what what a schedule and and you know the flexibility there from the staff obviously was was huge in that, but the the determination that you also had to be willing to do that is pretty commendable too. So really, really cool collegiate career. when we talk about your philosophy, you know, I think accountability is a big part of it. you have to tell me if that's right or wrong, but I think it probably is. How do we teach young athletes to hold themselves and their teammates accountable? Brad (26:23) But not create that conflict or that negativity on team. Cause I I can tell you I've seen it on my team. I've got a team of 11 and 12 year olds, and and they're while I mentioned a second ago, right, that I've got some good leaders, sometimes it comes across pretty harsh to the other kids and it creates a little bit of that combative nature where it's like, hey, I I want you to be a leader, but I don't want you to be condemning them for what they're trying to do. Cause they're trying as hard as they can. They just maybe messed up a little bit. They're in their wrong position, something like that. So Brad (26:52) Help me out and talk to me a little bit about how we can create this, but not create the negative side of it. Donnie Johnson (26:58) Yeah, yeah. it's a great question 'cause that is a tricky, slippery slope. Brad (27:01) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (27:02) especially for the for the younger younger kids. 'Cause they don't really understand what goes into it. They just kinda know like, hey, this is my friend, this is my teammate, but we need we need better. We we wanna Brad (27:14) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (27:14) win as well. but I mean I will say that there's a three step path to it to really understand it. I think you have to have a relationship with those kids, first. Brad (27:24) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (27:25) To talk about hey, hey, we know who you are. we know what you're about, and we want you to understand that second, we trust you to be able to do this. And vice versa. They trust you to have the best judgment. So relationship and trust, you have to have that before you can have the accountability. just because without that trust, accountability is is criticism. And Brad (27:47) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (27:47) not everybody likes to be critiqued. I don't like to be critiqued. I mean, appreciate it. Donnie Johnson (27:52) But I still, at 43 years old, I don't like to be critiqued. I've got to trust that person. and you've got to have somebody in your corner that you really trust. I think I've got a question in my book, is like, so who's that person that you know, no matter what is said, that you know they have your best interests at heart? Brad (28:11) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (28:12) because there's always one or two that you really know that they're gonna call you out for it. Donnie Johnson (28:17) but at the same time you need everybody to be able to do that. Like how do you get those relationships and that trust built first so that you can have accountability from either the coaches or the the leaders on the team? it it's a slippery slope though, if you go into the question of Donnie Johnson (28:35) What what is wrong with you? I I I think I put that in the book. It's like that that is like the Brad (28:38) Right. Donnie Johnson (28:39) I I think I I I referenced that in one of the things, like one of the one of our pitchers when I was I was coming through college, he was he was griping after like a good start, but we lost the game because of errors, like he unearned runs and things like that. He was just he Brad (28:54) Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (28:55) was just moping. And I caught him after after one of the games and I I just I I I literally said, What is wrong with you? Brad (29:02) Yeah. Donnie Johnson (29:03) that was a great game. You pitched awesome and immediately knew it as soon as I said it. I'm like, I could not pull the words back. I could not physically grab them 'cause I wanted to. because it should have been like, Hey, what's going on? What's on your mind? Brad (29:17) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Donnie Johnson (29:18) You had an awesome game. you did everything that you needed to do. We understand that the rest of the guys need to be better and we'll get it next time. It's that's Donnie Johnson (29:28) If I could have rewound it, I would have said it differently. But at the same time, I it was a learning lesson that's still a core memory for me that, hey, don't do that. Don't don't immediately 'cause it just assumes guilt. it assumes like wrongdoing. things like, I mean, we need you or that's not to our standard. Simple things like that, just without being criticized or or critiquing somebody on a a harsh level. Get Brad (29:54) Yeah. Donnie Johnson (29:55) the get the next one. Let's go again. Donnie Johnson (29:57) simple things that a change of wording makes a huge difference. Brad (30:03) Yeah, that that the insight of how you say something and and the tone in which you say it that that does affect the words that are being actually said, right? So it's like I'm sure Donnie Johnson (30:13) yeah. Brad (30:13) if you would have said, Hey, what are you doing? just in Donnie Johnson (30:15) Ha ha ha. Brad (30:16) a different tone, it probably would have come across a lot better. But you're you're right. Like you sometimes that stuff just comes out of your brain and you're like Donnie Johnson (30:21) Well, even even timing matters. even Brad (30:23) Yeah, timing. Donnie Johnson (30:24) and timing, because if you see somebody that's slacking off, hey, I give a conditioning it as an example. If you see somebody that you know is faster or whatever, and they're just slacking off for one, okay, maybe there was a reason, maybe they like winded from the previous I don't whatever it may be. But if you come off right off the bat, like why are you running slow right at the very beginning, it seems harsh. It catches them off guard, it gets them on the defense. Donnie Johnson (30:51) but at the same time, if you see a repeated pattern, yes, that's your your opportunity to step in and be like, hey, what's what's going on? What what what can we do to help you out? Brad (31:01) so you talked a little bit ago about the you know the outside of the team environment stuff that you were doing with with your peers, you know, going out to dinner and then hanging out watching UFC. Do you think that it's wise for you know a youth coach to probably have this stuff outside of the the the practices and the games to to help build that camaraderie on a team so that you have that trust foundation and Brad (31:24) And then that can lead to the accountability. you're doing some things outside of focusing on that sport, just trying to have some fun and trying to get the the team together. Are you a big proponent of that Donnie Johnson (31:34) I am. and it kinda goes and I see it now in some of our neighbors and they're all into the to travel baseball and and they're Brad (31:40) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (31:41) but they also have those cliques, those groups and it's not just the players, it's the parents as well. Brad (31:44) Hmm. for sure. Yeah. Donnie Johnson (31:47) and y and you know that those parents they're some like to go out to certain restaurants and have a couple of drinks while the kids play and and they will have their own things, but I think it's up to the the coaches if Donnie Johnson (32:01) depending on the level, to have those outside pieces. I'll go back to my daughter, for example. they just had their the end of year kind of banquet, but it wasn't really a banquet. It was more of a playtime for the players. And I wish they had done that more often. Brad (32:15) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (32:15) it was they were playing two hand touch football. Out in park, no lines, no rules, kind of just playing to to play. And I think that built more trust along everybody else than than doing it. Donnie Johnson (32:30) I mean I saw it in college when we we practiced during the summers, we would do conditioning. We would pre pretty much play like a very similar to like Australian rules football, where it was just go, go, go all the time. obviously we're not trying to kill each other because obviously we don't have a bunch of injuries, but we competed and pushed each other. the that was not like a coach led thing. That was, hey, that was twenty, thirty players that were still in town. Hey, let's get together, let's play. Donnie Johnson (32:55) And those bonds formed because we knew the effort that was being put into it by the other players. so I mean if the coaches can can do that and get outside of the baseball or whatever sport they're going after, get them outside that what they feel as a restricted, like, hey, this is this is game mode only. And get Brad (33:15) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (33:16) them into like a more of a a comfortable play mode, like, hey, yes, we can still compete and have a good time. same thing for Donnie Johnson (33:23) for conditioning. How do you make it fun? and and that's where you can kind of get back to the kids is asking like, what what do you want to do today for conditioning? And if it sounds reasonable, let's do it. but how do you let them have fun and have those those moments together? some of the best times, some of those memories that stick out because it's not normal. It was fun. they made those connections that it lasts a long time Brad (33:47) Yeah, it's amazing how much fun, that word or that concept comes into play when it comes to youth sports. It should be fun, right? this that's that's the goal. Donnie Johnson (33:54) Absolutely. Brad (33:55) we should be having fun. Otherwise, why are we doing this stuff? Brad (33:58) I've got one more question for you. you know, I wanna know if you could get every youth coach to make one small change tomorrow that would have a lasting impact on their players, what do you think that change would be? Donnie Johnson (34:10) I mean, obviously the finding a way to get those leaders out of every player. I mean, that's that's the general concept, but I will say stop leaving the relationships to chance is a good piece to it. So like we talked about the the relationships and then the trust. those relationships don't just happen, especially for a lot of kids that may be quiet. They don't have that social light. Donnie Johnson (34:33) Attitude. They just know that they're good at baseball. They love playing baseball or whatever sport. And and they make a connection with some of the other kids just by chance. Brad (34:43) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (34:44) how do you how do you get those coaches to actually make those connections happen? So maybe change up throwing partners, mix up groups. I'm not saying put kids out of position or anything like that, but just get them outside that comfort zone to pair up with somebody, old new guys, old guys. Donnie Johnson (35:01) make that happen, especially if you got new guys joining in on the team every on the season or whatever, is really get that mentor feel for even at a youth a a small a younger age, it is get the get the new people a mentor on the team and and they it kind of explain to and set that set that standard to that mentor style. say, Hey, this is what I expect and then hold the older kid. Donnie Johnson (35:28) accountable to it. Just say, hey, I I'm expecting you to take care of this person and you are responsible for them. They if they're late, you're late. Type experience and give that ownership. I think that is a easy way for Brad (35:40) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (35:41) those leadership building skills to come out, especially for those that have been around. And then the best part is is that those new guys or gals will see what that example looks like. This is what happened when I came in. Donnie Johnson (35:56) I'm gonna give that same feel to the next person. And that's that ripple effect I talk about talk about in the book. Is when we handed off the microphone to the Ben Harrison character, we did not know the impact of handing him that proverbial microphone Brad (36:12) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (36:13) would have over the next three, four years. I'm actually going here in two days, we're going back to our alma mater as part of this just crazy timing. Same day as a book launch is the two thousand nine. Donnie Johnson (36:24) baseball team is getting inducted to the Hall of Fame because they made a a run against all odds to the World Series. Brad (36:32) nice. Donnie Johnson (36:33) and and so the guy that the Ben Harrison character that we picked out actually pitched 21 innings in 24 hours. Brad (36:43) Oof. Donnie Johnson (36:44) He was a sidearm guy that just gave it all. he built the trust. He Donnie Johnson (36:52) had the leadership aspect. He was not a top prospect. He was not an all American. He was but he had the trust of the players. And it's a really cool part of the book. It gets me emotional thinking about every time because watching it live and then rel living reliving it 20 years later is just that awesome because that ripple effect of this is how it was done. I want others to have that same impact or same attention from us. Brad (37:19) Mm-hmm. Donnie Johnson (37:20) That's the ripple effect because it's not gonna stop with with Ben Harrison's character. It's gonna flow through them to the next person and the next person. And we'll never know who those people are. That final ripple will just keep going. We don't know the impact, but we just know that, hey, we did our part and and that's where what we need to do. Brad (37:39) And it feeds into your culture pillars that we talked about at the beginning. It's that repetition, right? You've got this you you're you're saying ripple and I get that, but it's also the repetition, right? You've got the the handoff and that just keeps going and going and going. And it's a fantastic approach to to creating leaders, to creating culture, accountability. I really appreciate the thought process. Brad (38:00) Donnie, this has been a tremendous conversation. I I can tell you've got a wealth of knowledge and and doing this in about 45 minutes here and trying to tap into your experience as a collegiate athlete, your 20 years of coaching, tapping in and giving us some insight to to the book and some insights that you've got inside of that book has been super valuable. So, you know, first and foremost, thank you for taking the time to to have this conversation and and to represent. Brad (38:27) something as impactful as building a team culture. secondly, please help me help you. let's let folks know where they can find the book and and some other opportunities to to further engage with with you and your content. Donnie Johnson (38:40) Yeah, Brad, I obviously I appreciate you having me on. I I love your content as as a whole. I mean we we believe a lot of the same things, if not all the same things. So tremendous work, keep it up. as far as the book goes, you can find my book on the plus plus oneculture dot com. you can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble. I just finished up the audio book. Donnie Johnson (38:59) So I mean there's gonna be various places to be able to find it. But we'll be we're gonna be doing some speaking engagements here and there. I'll be at the ABCA in January for the Baseball Coaches Association. can't wait to go to that. we'll have a booth, we'll have some groups. I've got some a cool group of guys that are going to be joining in from all over the country to help me out. so I'm interested to see those connections from from professional to the youth. Donnie Johnson (39:25) cannot wait for it. Brad (39:27) Yeah, and I'm I'm excited to follow along. it's it's cool to come in at this point in your journey, but I'm you know, I promise I'm gonna follow and see how this goes for you. I'm excited for you, man. So congrats again on the book and can't wait to to see how it how you know where go and how it goes in the future. Donnie Johnson (39:41) Thank you. Thank you. Brad (39:43) So if this episode helped you, share with another coach or parent who's figuring it out too. You can find Uncoached in this episode wherever you listen to podcasts. You can watch the episode on YouTube and make sure to follow the coaching dad on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. We'll see you next time on Uncoached.