Athletic Directors: Developing a Mindset to Survive and Thrive

With all the tasks and responsibilities that high school athletic administrators handle, learning and mastering new skills, and incorporating the latest best practices, are essential to keep pace. There are always new developments and more to learn; it is a continual and constant process.

There is, however, more involved to survive and possibly thrive in your position. New skills and concepts are great, but it is also imperative that you develop a positive, realistic and pragmatic mindset in order to navigate the hurdles and challenges that arise.

Fortunately, there are some truisms or maxims that should provide a good foundation in this pursuit. Control what you can, for example, and don’t obsess over what you can’t. Admittedly, this may be easier to state than to actually incorporate. Legislation, district policies or state association regulations may go into effect regardless of whether you think that they are essential, great or well-founded.

Time spent ruminating over things that are out of your control and have been decided or enacted is unproductive and won’t solve anything! If you and other colleagues can work to get these standards amended or repealed, work on it; however, until or unless you are successful making any change, these edicts are the law of the land, and you have to work within them.

Regardless of how much time, effort and thought you put into making the best possible decision to solve a problem or to set the direction for a new initiative, someone is going to disagree. Count on it. Other than in statistical concepts, you are not likely to get 100 percent agreement with most things in the real world.

Even though this may be somewhat disheartening and disappointing, it is vital for you to understand this phenomenon. Even though you can’t please everyone, you need to maintain your same conscientious approach by gathering facts, perhaps seeking advice from colleagues, developing alternatives, and then making the best decision that you can. But you can’t allow a few dissenting views to distract or cause you to doubt your efforts and to derail your focus. If you’ve done your best, move on to the next issue.

Also to state the obvious, there is only so much time in your day or week, and there is no current way that you can add more. With your hectic schedule and overwhelming workload, the only solution is to be better organized in order to be more efficient and effective. On a rare occasion, you may consider coming in earlier in the morning or staying later in the evening, but long-term this may lead to burnout and health issues. It really isn’t the answer.

Beyond burnout and potential accompanying health issues, your mental approach to your position and dealing with a host of individuals is partially your choice. Are you going to be positive or negative, or optimistic or pessimistic? While some days may be difficult and taxing, you actually set the tone, and others will react accordingly. Along with these other truisms, this is not to suggest that creating and maintaining a positive, professional approach and atmosphere will be easy, but this is under your control.

To lead a department, division, school or district, you logically would identify and surround yourself with good, positive and supportive people – colleagues and assistants who will help to carry out your goals and objectives. On the other hand, not everyone that you deal with – some parents, community members and perhaps few coaches and teachers – will be understanding, receptive or share your vision.

But you still have to deal with some who may be difficult and misguided. You can’t ignore them and simply hope that they will go away. It is not that easy; and because of the nature of your position, you have to be polite, professional and engage with everyone. Will everyone respond to logic and reason? Can you meet everyone’s expectations? Hardly, but this would be the time, therefore, to adopt the truism: “Honey attracts more flies than vinegar.” Keep the “positive, appealing and inclusive approach,” and perhaps you can reel them in, but you can’t swat them away.

Was Rome built in a day? Not according to the popular saying, therefore, it may take some time to get everyone on board with the education-based concept, and the manner in which you want to lead your program. Perseverance and doggedness are the attributes that may be needed, and repeating the messaging will be required.

During those demanding and stressful times, remind yourself that if this job was easy, everyone would think they could do it. Of course, some of your parents, community members and your staff may already think that. You are one of the extreme few who CAN. When you are trying to solve a vexing problem, or leading your constituents through a crisis, you ARE the best suited person.

Periodically, ask yourself why you do this job? Seriously, and your answer better be something along the lines of, “I want to have a positive impact upon the students, teachers, athletes, performers and coaches, and to provide the best environment and learning opportunities for our students.” Doesn’t this put everything into perspective? It should, because you are one of the luckiest individuals in the world to have your position.

Give yourself a peptalk occasionally when needed, because you definitely aren’t working for the money, and hopefully not for egotistical, self-serving reasons. Be guided by the very simple and straightforward principle: Just do what is right (and best) for everyone involved in your program, school or district. This IS the mindset that you need, and don’t be deterred!