U Have A Homework Assignment

If the football players at the University of Miami can do it over their Holiday break then you can too. It's called homework and your assignment starts NOW!

In fact, I am almost certain that you can hear your mother's voice echo in your head as she repeated probably a thousand times: "You can't go outside and play until all of your homework is done."

As soon as you get over your New Year's Eve hangover here is your homework assignment and you cannot blog (or play) until you have completed it (your homework): Read the two books mentioned below and then report back to me or you will have your scholarship pulled (blog privileges revoked).

The personal enlightenment and self improvement books you are assigned to read are: "The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team" and "Talent Is Never Enough".

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni:

Dysfunctions of a Team:

1. Absence of trust
2. Fear of conflict
3. Lack of accountability
4. Lack of commitment
5. Lack of attention to results.

On Highly Functioning Teams the team members:

1. Trust one another.
2. Engage in unfiltered conflict around ideas.
3. Commit to decisions and plans of actions.
4. Hold one another accountable for delivering against those plans.
5. Focus on the achievement of collective results.

It sounds simple, it’s because it is simple, at least in theory. In practice, however, it is extremely difficult because it requires levels of discipline and persistence that few teams can muster.

Even the most highly functional people can be made dysfunctional if placed in an environment, or on a team, where dysfunction rules.

Conversely, the positive environment created by highly functioning teams can bring out the best in even the most dysfunctional individuals.

Talent Is Never Enough was written by New York Times best-selling author Dr. John C. Maxwell.

Dr. Maxwell has a simple but very clear message for you, and for today's corporate culture fixated on talent above all else:

TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH.

What is the difference? Maxwell, the go-to guru for business professionals across the globe, insists that the choices people make-not merely the skills they inherit-propel them onto greatness.

Once you have read the books then you can tell us what you learned just like the University of Miami football players will have to do when they report back to UM after the Holiday break.

Now, get off the blog, get busy, go buy the two books and get your homework done. And NO blogging until you are finished!

Comments

[montanacane]

Happy New Year Canespacers!

[NativeCane]

Happy New Year, Montana Wassup?

Go Canes!!!

[IraqiCane]

Happy New Year all.

[NativeCane]

Morning IraqiCane Happy New Year to you and Yours!

[CaneRock]

UM Notebook
Ex-UM players crowd Padres roster
By Walter Villa The Miami Herald

The San Diego Padres are becoming Hurricanes West.

When spring training starts in February, the Padres will have five former University of Miami standouts with them in Arizona: first baseman Yonder Alonso, 24; center fielder Blake Tekotte, 24; and catchers Yasmani Grandal, 23, Jason Hagerty, 23, and Eddy Rodriguez, 25.

Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/31/2567459/ex-um-players-crowd-padres-roster.html

[MDCane]

Happy New Year All!

[CGNC]

Happy Happy New Year people!

[roachcane77]

Happy New Year everyone... the Golden Era continues!

I'm ordering my books today Soup...

[Ohio_Cane]

Happy new year Spacers! Hope everyone had fun and is safe today.

Here's to an amazing 2012 for all of U and our beloved Canes!

[publishers]

Happy, glorious New Year :-)

[4-Real]

IS THIS THING ON??!!

[86Cane]

I can see that this article met the same amount of enthusiasm as it did with UM players over the Holiday break.

Excuse me but your LACK OF COMMITMENT is showing!

[86Cane]

Dysfunction #1: Absence of Trust

This occurs when team members are reluctant to be vulnerable with one another and are unwilling to admit their mistakes, weaknesses or needs for help. Without a certain comfort level among team members, a foundation of trust is impossible.

Dysfunction #2: Fear of Conflict

Teams that are lacking on trust are incapable of engaging in unfiltered, passionate debate about key issues, causing situations where team conflict can easily turn into veiled discussions and back channel comments. In a work setting where team members do not openly air their opinions, inferior decisions are the result.

Dysfunction #3: Lack of Commitment

Without conflict, it is difficult for team members to commit to decisions, creating an environment where ambiguity prevails. Lack of direction and commitment can make team members, particularly star players feel disgruntled.

Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of Accountability

When teams don't commit to a clear plan of action, even the most focused and driven individuals hesitate to call their peers on actions and behaviors that may seem counterproductive to the overall good of the team.

Dysfunction #5: Inattention to Results

Team members naturally tend to put their own needs (ego, career development, recognition, etc.) ahead of the collective goals of the team when individuals aren't held accountable. If a team has lost sight of the need for achievement, the team ultimately suffers.

1. Striving to create a functional, cohesive team is one of the few remaining competitive advantages available to any organization looking for a powerful point of differentiation.

2. Functional teams avoid wasting time talking about the wrong issues and revisiting the same topics over and over again because of lack of buy-in.

3. Functional teams also make higher quality decisions and accomplish more in less time and with less distraction and frustration.

[86Cane]

Obviously the blog IQ of the people here needs to improve much like the football IQ of the players needs to improve.

Yes, it is VERY obvious, don't U agree?

[elliott]

No offense that was BORING....I clocked in just to get that point across...

[86Cane]

No offense that was BORING....I clocked in just to get that point across...

Posted by: elliott | January 01, 2012 at 09:10 PM

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know: RECRUITING right?

Even in the MIDDLE of the season.

DURING an actual game.

ALL U want to know about is RECRUITING?

[UpNorthCane]

My fault soup im just recovering from a longgggg night..... But seeing coach golden come up with this idea its genius he should quiz each and every one of the players it will show whos committed and whos not. I havent been able to order the books but afte reading the dysfunctions, if you eliminate them you have a winning product.

[Q]

Lmao.

[86Cane]

Any ignorants or idiots here just sucking on those recruiting juices?

Please just do me the favor of leaving.

[SJMPARMAN]

Check - Enjoy New Year's Eve and party. Done

Check - Recover day after.

Check - Think about the new year.

Read two self help books which are great ideas and theories but not my priority - unchecked.

I am not the team, I am just a fan - Check.

[hassan]

Hey it is good to at least know a lil about what they are reading, so we can see thier transformation

[SJMPARMAN]

I would give up the reading for ten hours in the weight room. Football is a physical game.

It is won or lost in the trenches. You can read all you want but the recent blogs, which I think are on point, have been about improving strength and conditioning so you have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Yale and Harvard don't produce BCS champs for a reason. Chemistry is important, and this team has lacked that for several years. But they also lacked physicality much more.

Body weight, its a Bosworth thingy. It is important no doubt. But great teams are not about body. They aren't about self help books. They are about an attitude and a mind set. It starts and ends with the QB. Until we get that right, you can read self help books up the wall and never win. IMO.

[j.w.]

Happy New Year evberyone! It's going to be a while for the books for me, I head back from vacation tomorrow then have to take care of business immediately. But I'll get to it.

[4-Real]

Morning space cadets!! Time 2 sober up & get this thang rollin!!!!

[raizecane]

I have not read a book since my college years so if I have to read a book now, it's going to be a book that will help me personally.

Like "How to lose 20 pounds without giving up alcohol"..... :-)

Happy New Years to all........

[SOUP]

Like "How to lose 20 pounds without giving up alcohol"..... :-)

Posted by: raizecane | January 02, 2012 at 08:19 AM

I read that book but it didn't work out for me. LOL

[Ohio_Cane]

A few from Papa Cane:

4 star DE Darius Hamilton will be visiting UM on Jan 27th. He is an imposing prospect

Expect 3 star S Lucas Thompson to choose ECU at this week's UA game. UM is not recruiting him

Dewey and Duke both impressing at the Under Armor All American practices

4 start LB Ukime Eligwe either just decommited from or someone stole his phone/account

[Ohio_Cane]

4 STAR** ^^

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[Ohio_Cane]

Blah, I can't type today, Ukime Eligwe decommited from FSU**