Re: Reset Rants
Reply #23 –
Baggers, we were able to game the previous pre draft system because we had the means to do so. Elliott was successful in a time when the model suited his monetised, corporatised world view, and I don’t knock him for that. My knock on him is that he couldn’t or wouldn’t change when he needed to, and when the jig was well and truly up.
I must be one of the few who feel they understand Bolton quite clearly. “not deviating” means that we won’t go back to messiahs, singling out individuals etc. I don’t think it means he won’t amend the game plan etc. But coaches have a belief in certain things that work, things that have worked for them in the past, and things they expect will work for them now.
“Not putting a ceiling on” means partly not being able to predict the future, and not wanting to put a limit on what the team can achieve.
“Not getting too high or low” is simply about not letting emotions and rash thoughts / behaviours get in the way of clear rational thought. Not thinking their sh1t is beautifully fragrant when they win, and not jumping off bridges when they lose.
Clearly, you find his manner and phrases irritating or deceptive. I find he’s pretty straight up, but I guess his way of talking isn’t for everyone.
The invitation was for a rant... I took up the invitation, passionately

Highs and lows are a realistic and authentic part of life, as are emotions. It was one of the factors singled out in the Tiggers success last year, 360 feedback/expression around bona fide emotions (hurts/heroes and I forget the 3rd H). We shouldn't consign emotions to being solely 'irrational', many aren't. To me it's not an either/or thing but rather 'both' scenario. If emotions frighten you (not you personally) and must be controlled/dominated by rational thought then leadership aint for you. Leadership understands how best passion and thought can work together to get the best out of each other.
For me, allowing, even encouraging people to feel deep hurt and deep exhilaration around failure and success is great for development... provided you can provide a safe environment for them to do so - never ignore or deny or invalidate or minimalise emotions - they're friends not foes. Suppressing emotion is a gateway to trouble, big trouble. And believe me, gen y and millennials will use 'not too low' to minimise losing; to not seeing it as too bad thing; to not allowing themselves to hurt.
Of course you don't want people jumping off bridges after a loss, but hurts/disappointments not expressed or validated will far more likely lead to trouble than expressed, authentically expressed, hurts in a safe and validating environment.