Commonplace Expertise
Lesley Sim on Skill Acceleration in Ultimate
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Encouraging proactive problem-solving fosters team growth and innovation.
- Transition from undesirable to desirable challenges indicates progress and development.
- Shift towards collaborative problem-solving showcases team evolution and engagement.
- Utilizing positive reinforcement promotes skill development and a culture of continuous progression.
Deep dives
Creating a Positive Learning Environment
Encouraging a positive approach to learning and growth, the coach sought to foster forward motion and fearless exploration among team members. By implementing methods like 'tag teach,' where positive behaviors were reinforced through clear, binary instructions and positive feedback such as celebrating attempts at new techniques, the coach aimed to create an environment where failure was embraced and seen as a stepping stone toward progress.
Transitioning from Undesirable to Desirable Problems
Initially facing undesirable issues like lack of quality and inexperience within the team, the coach's approach shifted the focus towards desirable challenges. As team members progressed and started engaging in problem-solving discussions independently, the shift in complaints from skill levels to guidance indicated a positive transition towards better problems, signifying growth and development.
Signs of Progress in Team Dynamics
Observed shifts from complaints about team composition and skill disparities to critiques about guidance and improvement highlighted a positive evolution in team dynamics. The emergence of new challenges, including excessive discussions and striving for higher standards, showcased a shift towards deeper engagement, self-motivation, and collaborative problem-solving.
Applying Forward Motion to Problem-Solving
By encouraging a proactive approach to problem-solving and skill development, the coach instilled a culture of continuous progression and innovation within the team. Embracing desirable challenges as indicators of growth and seeking solutions independently, team members transitioned from passive complaints to active engagement, fostering a culture of learning and advancement.
Embracing Positive Reinforcement in Learning
Utilizing positive reinforcement methodologies like 'tag teach,' the coach emphasized the importance of celebrating attempts, promoting forward motion in skill development, and fostering a supportive learning environment. By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and encouraging self-driven problem-solving, team members embraced a mindset of curiosity, persistence, and collaborative learning.
The Importance of Having Desirable Problems in Remote Working
Encouraging remote employees to move towards asynchronous work styles involves encountering 'good problems,' where individuals express preferences for certain tools or methods. These challenges signal a positive shift towards remote work, highlighting progression in a company's direction. By managing these preferred challenges effectively, companies can align their problem-solving with the evolving work landscape.
Optimizing Training Drills in Ultimate Frisbee
Utilizing set constraints in training drills can enhance player performance in sports like Ultimate Frisbee. By imposing strict timing constraints on throwers and receivers, players develop precise timing and decision-making skills. Focusing on specific, well-constrained drills, such as throwing a certain type of pass within a set time frame, promotes efficient skill development and better game performance. Emphasizing constraint-based training methods can lead to improved player outcomes and overall game effectiveness.
Lesley Sim coached the Singaporean Ultimate Women's World Championship team in 2020. We open with an introduction to the sport of Ultimate (sometimes known as frisbee), her experience coaching the women's team in late 2019, and then move on to her remarkable approach to pedagogical development and skill acceleration in the game of Ultimate.
Along the way, we talk about desirable and undesirable problems in training, playing to play vs playing to win, and how she used a training method originally designed for dolphins and dogs and adapted it to humans — with great success!
Lesley's Twitter — https://twitter.com/lesley_pizza
Lesley's Personal Site — https://lesley.pizza/
Newsletter Glue — https://newsletterglue.com/
Karen Pryor's Book Reading the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals (on TAG Teach) — https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2412884
How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis — https://www.goodreads.com/el/book/show/1837402.How_to_Get_Rich
Sticky.fm, Lesley's Podcast on Building Sticky Newsletters — https://sticky.fm/
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (03:25) - The Sport of Ultimate
- (10:29) - Defining The Metagame for Ultimate
- (15:14) - How Lesley Got Into Ultimate
- (17:27) - Different Styles of Play in Ultimate
- (20:42) - Coaching Singapore's Women's Worlds Team
- (31:01) - Using TAG Teach as a Teaching Tool
- (37:31) - Why Positive Reinforcement
- (44:16) - Failing Forwards as a Training Philosophy
- (56:27) - Desirable and Undersirable Problems
- (01:08:37) - Drills and Simulations But Nothing In Between
- (01:13:23) - What Makes for a Good Drill?
- (01:16:23) - Playing to Play vs Playing to Win
- (01:23:07) - On Newsletter Glue
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
