1. USA Swimming Women’s Leadership Summit
Colorado Springs
April 7-9, 2017

2. Feedback on the summit Overall, it was a fantastic experience
Our facilitator, Roberta Kraus, was amazing
We were given practical techniques that we can easily apply and were given a chance to practice them right away
I enjoyed meal times and social events where I was able to exchange ideas and get advice from a variety of coaches outside my team
The outdoor challenge was my favorite session. I did a modified version of it with my groups as a teambuilding activity.

3. Feedback on the summit
I liked staying in cabins and rooming with other coaches, it was easier to get to know each other in such a short amount of time and gave us more opportunities to interact
The transportation to and from the airport was greatly appreciated
I came in feeling a bit stressed/burnt out and came out feeling refreshed and excited to get back to coaching

4. Feedback on the summit
There was a lot of information packed into 48 hours, I would have liked a third day with more breaks between sessions
Most sessions were aimed at interactions with adults/assistant coaches, I would have liked a few sessions geared towards on deck interactions with kids
Since we were in Colorado Springs, I would have liked a tour of the Olympic Training Center as part of the summit

5. Challenging Assumptions
Rectangular puzzle with irregular pieces, all one color, which table can figure it out the fastest?
Assumptions that we had to challenge to complete the puzzle
Corners go on the edges
Colored side goes up for all pieces
You can’t help leadership for help
You cannot ask other groups for help
All group’s puzzles are the same (one group had a puzzle with colors reversed so help from other groups was counter productive)

6. Challenging Assumptions
What assumptions are you making about yourself as a coach, your swimmers and your assistant coaches that are holding you (or them) back?
Sometimes it’s good to think outside the box and try things that you’ve always assumed wouldn’t work
Golden rule – treat others the way you want to be treated
Platinum rule – treat others the way they want to be treated

7. FIRO-B (Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation – Behavior)
Inclusion
Control
Affection
Expressed
I join and include others
I take charge and influence others
I am open and personal with others
Wanted
I want others to include me
I want others to lead me and give me direction
I want people to get close and personal with me

8. FIRO-B Inclusion – degree to which a person associates with others
Control - degree to which a person assumes responsibility, makes decisions, establishes structure
Affection – degree to which a person is open and candid
Expressed – behaviors you are comfortable expressing to other people
Wanted – behaviors you want other people to express towards you

9. FIRO-B
We took the FIRO-B assessment and determined our scores for the 6 categories and shared them with each other several times
We used these scores throughout the weekend to figure out how other people would like to be treated
It also gave us insight on how we tend to treat other people

10. Effective Leadership
Create conditions for others to do their best work and get out of their way

11. Developmental Feedback Model
To give effective feedback, describe:
Situation – specific time and place
Action – observable behavior (not judgment)
Reaction – how it made you feel
Alternative – what you would prefer next time
Give them a chance to respond
Make sure you are listening to understand, not listening to respond
Be willing to follow up

12. Ineffective Feedback Embarrassing/assigning blame to the receiver
Operating under false assumptions
“Always” or “Never” statements

13. People need people Psychological Needs: Behavioral Needs:
Need to feel significant
Need to feel competent
Need to feel worthy
Behavioral Needs:
Inclusion
Control
Affection
Motivational Needs:
Don’t want to be ignored
Don’t want to be humiliated
Don’t want to be rejected

14. Johari Window Known to Self Unknown to Self Known to others
Open Window
Blind Window
Unknown to others
Hidden Window
Discovery
- There are things about me that I know and things about me that I don’t know
- There are things about me that other people know and things about me that others don’t know

15. Johari Window
Want to take things from hidden window and add them to open window - tell other people about yourself
Relates back to FIRO-B Affection score
Want to take things from the blind window and add them to the open window – need to ask others for feedback or insight

16. Resiliency Techniques
Do you snap or snap back?
Cerebellum - controls physical movement, holds 80% of brain’s neurons
Prefrontal Cortex – Decision making, thinking, holds 18% of brain’s neurons
Amygdala – Regulates emotions, holds 2% of the brain’s neurons

17. Move!
Since 80% of the brain’s neurons are in the cerebral cortex, you need to move regularly to activate that part of your brain
If you sit at a desk all day and engage mainly your cerebral cortex, only 18% of your brain is activated
Exercise regularly
Get up and walk or stretch throughout the day

18. Physical Resiliency Techniques
Exercise, Sleep, Cleaning, Baking, Etc.
Open/Close fists
When stressed, your tongue presses up against the roof of your mouth – relax it by smiling or yawning
Belly breathing
Fall asleep faster breathing
Breathe in for 4 seconds
Hold breath for 7 seconds
Exhale for 8 seconds
Repeat 5-6x or until asleep

19. Mental Resiliency Techniques
Be in the present moment
Self talk – if you find yourself making a negative statement about yourself, add “AND” (follow with a positive statement that is related)
Activate mental keys (an active picture that gives a positive feeling)
Anytime you bring up a negative memory, you make it more negative (Anytime you bring up a positive memory, you make it more positive)

20. Emotional Resiliency Techniques
Leave the physical place that gives you negative emotions
Engage in something that activates pre-frontal cortex (distract yourself!)
Acknowledge, Define, Attack
How are you feeling? Why? What are my current strengths I can use in this situation?

21. Outdoor Challenge Stamps (A through Z in order of difficulty)
Assigned amounts of money
Bonus for more than 6
Bonus for trash pick up, enthusiasm, creativity
Given a map
Only 4 groups per letter
Goal is to get as much money as possible for the whole group (not a competition between groups)
Small group planning – strategy, communication, switching
Large group planning – sharing ideas, breaking into groups, finalizing strategy

22. Outdoor Challenge
Must stay in groups of 3 within sight and talking distance of each other
No running
Trail about 5 miles
Clues
90 minute time limit, penalty for being late

23. Lessons Learned (Outdoor Challenge)
Collaboration with different personalities
Challenge assumptions
Don’t take frustration with task out on people
Don’t get too focused on task and forget about others
Be flexible, change roles or approach if something isn’t working
Large group planning needed one leader and better organization

24. Thoughts on working with kids
Don’t overload them with instructions
Ask questions instead of telling them answers, then they own the thought
Phrase things in a positive manner “Stay calm” vs “don’t panic”
They do not hear the “don’t” or the “not”
Just tell them what you WANT them to do
Set goals for improving strokes and times, not winning or beating people
Swimming needs to be fun
What’s fun for one kid isn’t always fun for another
Most common reason for quitting the sport – It wasn’t fun

25. Fun Facts Writing things down is better than typing for memory
90% of communication is non-verbal (tone and body language), only 10% is what you say

26. Which shape represents you?
Intelligence
Leadership
Harmony
Creativity