Student-Athlete Team Session Materials

Kickoff Event

Required Forms to be Signed & Returned to your Coaches at 1st Team Session or emailed to students@handshakeamerica.org*

• Scholarship Agreement, Release Form & Permission to Participate

  *form can be returned electronically by filling in requested fields, saving as a PDF, and attaching to email.

Meeting #1

Team

• 5P Self-Evaluation

• Definition of Success

• Summary of 5 Practices

Pre-Session Preparation

1. Review the Five Practices of Success (be prepared to list them in order)

2. Complete the Five Practice Self Evaluation and bring your completed form to the meeting and email your completed form to Students@handshakeamerica.org

3. Prepare to share your 4Hs in 3-5 min

4. Read the 10 Quotes on Team

   Prepare to share which ones resonated with you the most and why

5. Watch the first 1:45 of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (7:59).

   What are the first two dysfunctions of a team? Be prepared to show an example - good or bad - of a team you've experienced.

6. Watch Coach K Standards vs. Rules (2:00)

   Prepare to share a standard that you believe your Handshake America Team should adopt (it doesn’t need to be one from the video)

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your Team Session Feedback via this brief survey - Team Survey

Pre-Session Preparation

1. Watch Famous Failures (2:58).

   Why do you think failure is sometimes a part of becoming successful? Which person's failure resonated with you the most and why?

2. Watch Ben Watson's Tackle (3:31).

   What motivated Watson to do what he did? What qualities does that play demonstrate about him and his prospects for success in life?

3. Watch GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (6:13).

   What did Duckworth's research team determine was NOT an indicator of success and/or graduation from high school? (Hint: there are at least 7).

4. Read the 10 Quotes on Perseverance and prepare to share which 2-3 resonated with you the most and why.

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your Perseverance Session Feedback via this brief survey - Perseverance Survey

Pre-Session Preparation

1. Watch the video clip Stop Trying to "Find Your Passion" - College Info Geek (6:41)

2. Watch the video clip Mike Rowe: Don’t Follow Your Passion, Follow Opportunity (5:18)

3. Watch the video clip Steve Jobs Passion in Work (1:30)

4. Watch the video clip The Pursuit of Happyness Movie Clip – Basketball and Dreams (2:15)

5. Read the 10 Quotes on Passion and prepare to share which ones resonated with you the most and why.

6. Think about your interests and how they came to be. Be prepared to share with your team.

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your Passion Session Feedback via this brief survey - Passion Survey

Pre-Session Preparation

1. Watch Getting stuck in the negatives (and how to get unstuck) | Alison Ledgerwood | 9:59 mins

   Do you know someone who gets stuck in the negative?  Why do you think that happens?  What's the impact on you and others?

2. Watch The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong | Amy Morin | 15:01 mins

   Amy Morin said there are three "Destructive Beliefs" that hold you back - "Unhealthy beliefs about yourself / others / and the world". Which one do you think you tend to have?  How does it affect you and is there a way to change it?

3. Watch Do What You Like, Like What You Do | Bert Jacobs | 13:26 mins

   In his video, the Co-founder of ‘Life is Good’ explains that they built a business around 'Optimism.'  Is that a company you think you'd like to work with?  Why?

4. Watch Never Too Far Down | Nike | 1:31 min

   Which of the first three Handshake America Practices (Perseverance, Passion, Positivity) do you think is most represented in Nike’s ‘Never Too Far Down’ video?  What image do you remember or like the most and why?

5. Read the 10 Quotes on Positivity and prepare to share which 2-3 resonated with you the most and why.

6. Be prepared to discuss openly and proactively participate.

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your Positivity Session Feedback via this brief survey - Positivity Survey

Pre-Session Preparation

1. Watch How to Have a Good Conversation | Celeste Headlee | 12:06 mins.

   You don’t need to learn how to look like you’re paying attention if you really are paying attention.

2. Watch How to Connect With Anyone: This Realization Changed My Life |Aaron Doughty | 6:02 mins.

   Drop the labels before engaging with someone.

3. Watch Surrounding Yourself with the Right People for Success | Jimmy Johnson | 3:53 mins.

   Jimmy Johnson receives unexpected induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and delivers a humble response.

4. Read the 10 QUOTES on People, and be prepared to share the ones that resonated with you the most 

5. Thoughtfully consider and come prepared to share what people have impacted your life the most.

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your People Session Feedback via this brief survey - People Survey

Read the following information regarding Presence and be prepared to share what stood out most to you.

The Components of Presence

There are many things that go into your presence. Some are on the outside and some are on the inside. Some are judged immediately, and others are observed over time. They all can be practiced and developed.

1. Your Appearance - These generally result in ‘first impressions’ that are made within seconds of meeting someone. Watch the Things that Ruin a First Impression Immediately and take note of things you do well and need improvement | Bright Side (10:08 mins)

2. Body Language - This non-verbal communication usually happens subconsciously and consequently can reveal what’s in you mind - positive and negative. It’s expressed with facial expressions, posture, eye movements, breathing and of course, handshakes! In case you’re not convinced body language matters, check out this press conference excerpt of Gino Auriemma, one of the most accomplished coaches in history | Gino Auriemma (2:38 mins)

3. What you say and how you say it - Does your language reflect who you are? Do your words build people up or tear them down? Like a small rudder can change the direction of a large ship, your tongue can change the course of your and other’s lives. How you talk - your vocabulary, tone, clarity, volume - equally impacts your presence.

4. How you build relationships - Building rapport is about respecting people and assuming they could potentially be a friend. Finding a common interest with others and being authentic is a good way to put others at ease. (Recall Celeste Headlee’s tips on how to have a good conversation from your ‘People’ Session)

5. Having commitment to your values - Standing tall in your values and things that are important to to you - even if someone does not agree - creates a strong and special presence. It does not mean to try to force your values on others or be disrespectful to their different values. (See #10)

6. Your passion for things - You naturally create an energy when you are passionate. People can feel that energy and they’re inspired by it.

7. Your production - You can have all the potential in the world, but if you don’t get things done and don’t produce results, you will not shine. The more you try, the more you’ll experience, and the more you’ll produce.

8. How you work and practice - People admire those who consistently practice and work hard. Perseverance leads to success and it also favorably adds to your Presence!

9. Being present - People can tell when you're mentally present and when you’re “somewhere else.” It requires extraordinary mental strength but working at it will not only improve your presence, it’ll also improve your performance. Try to “be where your feet are.”

10. Respect of others - Treating people with respect should be consistent and indifferent to status. The Golden Rule (treating others as you want to be treated) should be the same for the person serving your food as it is to the CEO.

11. Inspire and encourage others - A mentality and desire to help others be better expands your capacity, impact and production. Its leadership at its core and it generates an exponential energy that spreads to others.

12. Be you! - Of all the components above, this is the most important. If you continually practice the 5Ps you will be “comfortable in your own skin” and have a poise and confidence that yields a great presence.

Does Improving your Presence Mean You’re an Imposter?

Harvard professor and author of the book Presence explains why developing your presence skills does not mean you’re a fake. Listen to her personal story in the excerpt from her presentation that’s been watched over 50 million times | Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy (fast forward to 15:00 min mark of 20:48 min video)

The Impact of Presence

Handshake America’s mission is to provide you with the mental framework to help you become successful in all aspects of life. Practicing and improving your Presence - and the other four Practices - will certainly help you personally. However, our vision is to influence others too!

Handshake America has a Vision of a National Team of Five Practice Leaders (i.e. 5P Leaders) that are influencing culture and uniting the people around them.

Let’s break that down:

• “National” - obviously means to grow throughout the United States. There have been hundreds of people involved in the HA Program since it was founded in 2011. These student-athletes, coaches, and volunteers have already spread to 115 different schools, 24 states and are employed in a wide variety of organizations.

• “Team” - a group of individuals working together to achieve their goal.

• “Five Practice Leaders” - people who embrace Handshake America’s mental framework for success and regularly demonstrate an effort to improve their Perseverance, Passion, Positivity, People, and Presence.

• “Influencing Culture” - having an effect on the attitudes and behaviors of a particular group. Cultures are in teams, organizations, friend groups, families, neighborhoods, societies, and countries.

• “Uniting the People Around Them” - having a common attitude, behavior, goals, or values can bring people together. It’s like a shared pair of glasses through which we see the future. Our presence can shape the environment and our relationships as we wish them to be.

Post-Session Feedback

Surveys to be completed within 24 hours of meeting completion

Please share your Presence Session Feedback via this brief survey - Presence Survey

National Team Meeting Log