The environment starts with this...
Leaders spend a lot of time talking about culture.
They talk about values.
They talk about standards.
They talk about accountability.
And yet…so many programs still underachieve and are full of drama and dysfunction.
Why?
It’s not because leaders are talking about the wrong things.
It’s because culture doesn’t live in words, it lives in the environment.
Show me a coach or leader who creates an elite environment, and I’ll show you a program with elite culture.
Culture is downstream from environment.
That leader might value toughness, family, and discipline.
Another coach might value accountability, work ethic, and togetherness.
But here’s the truth: When you create an environment where people can truly thrive, the specific values matter far less.
Everything starts with energy.
There are two kinds of energy:
Catabolic energy drains and tears down.
Anabolic energy fills and propels.
Every person gives off energy...all the time.
From the head coach or CEO all the way to the intern or GA.
The difference isn’t whether we give off energy. The difference is impact.
A leader’s energy plays a big role in creating the environment.
It either fills the room or drains it.
It either propels people forward or slowly tears things down.
Energy isn’t mystical. It isn't vague or abstract.
Energy is simply the result of micro behaviors.
Example
Several years ago, I sat in a staff meeting and watched a coach completely drain the room.
I remember thinking, This program has no shot.
Not because of a lack of talent. Not because the staff was weak. But because the leader’s energy was completely catabolic.
This coach said all the right things about culture. He had a clear plan. He articulated values and expectations well.
But his energy created an environment no one wanted to be part of. Coaches underperformed. Athletes underperformed.
It wasn’t the scheme.
It wasn’t the strategy.
It was the leader’s energy that quietly crushed the program.
I’ve asked roughly 350–400 people this question:
“Think of someone who drains you.
Now think of someone who fills you.
What behaviors do they consistently show?”
The list that follows comes directly from those answers.
What’s interesting is that almost everyone can clearly name the behaviors that either fill a room or drain it.
And yet, those same people often catch themselves doing the very behaviors that drain others.
For example, most of us would agree with this: People who only talk about themselves and constantly use “I” and “me” language are exhausting.
And yet… how often do we do the same thing? We get talking.
We forget to ask questions. We dominate the conversation without realizing it.
Leaders, the energy you bring matters. A lot.
You can have a great scheme. You can communicate vision, values, and expectations with total clarity.
But if you consistently show up with catabolic energy, your program will underachieve.
The best leaders, the ones who sustain success over time, almost always create environments where people thrive and flourish.
And energy is a huge part of that environment.
Now What
Get people around you and give them permission to speak into your life. Ask them, "What are the behaviors that you see in me that fill the room. And what behaviors drain the room?"
**FAITH AND LEADERSHIP**
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One of my weekly disciplines is scouring the internet for articles/tweets I can learn from and/or use with those I work with. Below are two that I hope will help encourage and equip you.
Article 1- The learning zone
Article 2- John Harbaugh on Principles vs. Methods
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