Top Down or Bottoms Up?

Presentation by John Girdwood, MSA

Creating an Environmentfor a Better Athletic Program

Presenter Bio: John Girdwood, MSA

Creating an Environmentfor a Better Athletic Program

Presentation by John Girdwood, MSA

• PhD Student of Sociology at Michigan State• Master's of Administration, Central Michigan Univ.• B.A. in Professional Ethics, Philosophy, Comparative

Religion from Western Michigan University• Currently a Manager of Volunteer Services at McLaren

Visiting Nurse & Hospice near Flint MI• Formerly employed by and volunteer with non-profits who

assist the senior population (welfare/legal)• Worked for State of MI Attorney General and Legislature

as well as Dept of Community Health• Enjoy sports and academics; founded a non-profit that

furthers outside movement inside K-12 schools

Origins of Success

"Barns spoke of the dedication that he and his staff have put forth over the years. He's humbled by the achievement. And to think, he wasn't even sure if he was going to be head coach at Goodrich, he was an assistant for 10 years before landing the top position. "I never really thought about it at first (300 wins)" said Barns. "When I first started, I never really had aspirations to be the head coach."

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/3388666054752561484/worth-the-time-goodrich-boys-varsity-basketball-coach-gary-barns-gets-300th-win-friday-night-against-lake-fenton/

Mark Hollis and Tom Izzo were once college roommates at MSU in the early 80's.  Hollis was a student manager and now is one of the most powerful Athletic Directors in the nation.

Where do leaders come from?

The origins of leadership • Group development

process • Understanding your

organization • Defining clear roles

Handout: "Group Development"

The Flint Public Library’s lower level meeting room is the home of the Greater Flint Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame (GFAAHF), a collection of over 100 plaques honoring Flint athletes, celebrating its 27th year dedicated to its motto:

“To preserve, not compete.”

Preservation vs. Competition

• Is it possible to win if all you do is preserve the status quo?

 • Is it possible to win if you compete against

your own teammates or others who support you? ("friendly competition")

 • Do you believe that you can "lose the

battle" but "still win the war"? 

* most important

Do your teammates and/or competition answer these questions the same way? *

You Need a Clear Vision

Mismatches:1.Role Conflict–Role Strain–Value Alienation–Exploitation

System Myths

The organization has a system set up to ensure

that the needs of the employees are being met.  Therefore, the

needs of the employees are being met.

The staff needs that are not being fulfilled by the system

are likely to be met by support networks outside the office,

like their friends and families.

Myths

Wait... where is the easy answer?

Okay, we now know some mismatches and myths...

There is no Captain Answer!

So where is the step by step solution to these problems?

Issue Spotting

• Name an issue• Describe it in 3 sentences• Fold the paper in half

• Who does the issue effect? 

• Did you write any names down? 

• Are you thinking of a solution process or assembling a team?

Handout: "Issue Spotting"

Awareness is key

Easy to see pragmatic struggles like:• I'm going through a

divorce• I need to put food on the

table• My kids need new shoes• Putting our daughter

through college• Planning for retirement

More difficult to envision the psychological elements:• I don't want to be viewed

as a head case• If I don't get my work done,

my boss thinks I'm unmotivated

Outside the Box

...it's cliche for a reason!

Various Models to Create a Better

Environment

Ask yourself:• Who or what is the target

subject or population?• What is the goal we are

trying to achieve?• What skills or methods will

we use to reach our target subject/population?

The types of models:• client-centered • consultee-centered• program-centered

administrative• consultee-centered

administrative

Visual Aid: Sample Org Structure

Philosophy Maintenance

You need to maintain the approach in order to sustain continuous positive outcomes

REMEMBER:

• Decision Web Theory 

o Connectivity of role contributorso Connectivity of choice makers

 • Difference Between

Process and Problem

Handout: "Decision Web"

Top Down or Bottoms Up?

Creating an Environment for a Better Program

Presentation by John Girdwood, MSA

Personal / Academic: 6419 Beecher Rd.Flint MI 48532   Phone # 1-774-473-9663 or girdwoo1@msu.edu

Professional:

McLaren Visiting Nurse & Hospice 1515 Cal DriveDavison MI 48423  Phone # 1-810-496-8779 or   johngi@McLaren.org

Bibliography available on request or at my website:

www.JohnGirdwood.com

All images retrieved from Google images.  No

compensation received for presentation.  Images

displayed under fair use with credit to source.