Selling "In"

Some may know the term "sell out" meaning to betray. What about selling in?

1. A teacher had an unruly class. At her wit's end, she created a novel assignment. She distributed a paper with each classmate's name and each student had to write two things they liked about each and return the paper. She then cut and pasted the compliments and distributed to each student. There was a giant turnaround.

Years later the teacher passed on and many from that class went to the wake. And some pulled a wrinkled piece of paper from their purse or wallet with those compliments. Help others be seen and heard. 

2. One day practice was slow. I gathered the players in a circle and asked each player to say something positive about the girl on either side of them. Not "I like her hair," but something about the player. One player said about our best player, "She's amazing." Remember MUDITA, "your joy is my joy." 

3. "Water the flowers." Consider this exercise. Pair up and "sell why your partner deserves a role on the team." 

• "She's an excellent server who puts us in advantage."
• "She's an energizer who lifts up the team."
• "She's the best passer on the team."
• "She's our loudest voice." 
• "She makes everyone feel better about themselves."
• "She is confident. If we were all as confident as she, we would never lose."

Elevate your teammates. Sell in.