Summer is officially almost here. Very soon are the 7-10 days of the year that athletics administrators can exhale, unwind and (dare I say) relax. But, next year is right around the corner and fall sports will be in full swing.
It’s time to review your “I wish I would have…” list. You know, it’s the one that starts on top of your desk in June or July, but by mid-September is buried under day-to-day realities.
Dust off the old list, or start from scratch. Either way, invest some time to clarify those things that matter most to running your program. (Re-) Connect with your purpose and then visualize and articulate what success looks like for you and your program. Are student-athletes prominent in these areas? They ought to be.
If nothing else happens during your summer “down time” make a commitment to establish and stick to a schedule to reconnect with your core purpose and vision of success. This must include more than just you, too. Here’s a schedule to consider with various constituencies in your realm:
- Annually– President/senior administration, Trustees, donors, community members. Each of these groups should be updated/reminded of athletics’ purpose and role on your campus and the positive impacts the program has.
- Monthly– Coaches and staff, key campus units, student-athletes. These groups work directly or indirectly with student-athletes and athletics department operations. They need to be engaged regularly and have a regular communication plan.
- Weekly– Leadership team, SAAC, athletics direct report. Much can happen in a week’s time. Those that are most closely aligned with leadership and management of the program should be communicated with at least weekly and reminded of the core purposes the department is working for.
- Daily– Yourself. You may want to expand this to include your closest confidants, but at least make time each day to review why you are in the position you’re in and what you are trying to accomplish.
Lastly, make time to decide which “..I wish I would have’s” you will commit to this year. But don’t stop there. Clarify why each is important, set a deadline for completion and identify the first thing you need to do to move forward. Committing to something requires a first step and that first action will keep things moving.
Use the summer down time to recharge your battery, but make sure that you take advantage of this time to utilize a clear mind to think strategically about your important goals and objectives. Map out the tasks that will keep you and your program, staff and campus focused on what matters most: student-athletes.