Week 1

[eschatologies]

We lost our volleyball match on Friday. It wasn't our best attempt, and in moments of disappointment and stress it gets extremely easy (for some people) to begin pointing the finger of blame outwards rather than inwards. As a team, we sometimes forget to say something into the mirror before saying it to a teammate. It has always been a problem for

Comments

[jenandbronze]

Yikes! That is definitely empty gestures. I see where your coach is headed with this, but ... I wouldn't want to do something if I have issues with someone to improve the relationship.This was a unique perspective you choose for this week's topic.

[teaberryblue]

I came in to comment before I realized this was your LJI post!

I think those assignments work best if you think of it as for yourself instead of as for the person the compliment is for. When you're working as a team, it's important to figure out the strengths even of people you don't like, so you can work better with them. If you can quantify the value a person brings to the team, even if you don't like them, it can help you figure out how to use their skills to the team's advantage. So, for example, if you don't like someone but they've super disciplined on and off the court, maybe they're the person to go to when you're having trouble with drills. Even something usually bad, like someone highly critical, is something that can bring value to a team if you count on them to be really nitpicky about everyone's else's form. So think of it as a value assessment for you and for the team, not as a compliment for the person you don't like.

[baxaphobia]

Forced compliments don't make sense. I understand the reasoning but the sincerity just usually isn't there.

[snarkylightning]

While I agree that it feels dishonest to compliment someone you don't like, I do think there is some merit to an activity like that. It allows you to practice giving and receiving compliments. In my experience, compliments naturally happen, but not nearly enough. People are much more likely to criticize each other than actually compliment.

[cacophonesque]

It's weird, because I'm really a big fan of warm fuzzies and all of that--but I really detest mandatory or imposed compliment sessions like this. I get the idea behind them, sure. But I still have always felt like it was bullshit.