NURTURE / LEAD WITH STORY

COYOTE AND BASKETBALL, customer service and teamwork

All her life Coyote had loved basketball. When she was a little pup, she rolled around on the dirt floor of her den with a basketball. As she grew older, she liked to practice dribbling and shooting outside. She knew a lot about basketball. She had a lot of natural skill, but Coyote was young and had never played on a team.

One day, Coyote was in the ball court by herself shooting hoops when Raven passed by. Raven watched for a while as Coyote ran layups and practiced free throws. Finally Raven called out, “bend your knees a little more! It will give you more spring!” Every few days, Raven would stop and watch a bit and call out advice.

Coyote was shooting better and better and she began to think of Raven as her mentor.

 

Now Raven was sharp as a whip and extremely good at numbers. Not only that, she was co-captain of a successful basketball team. The other captain was Paint Pony, a beautiful young quarter horse. The next time Raven met with Paint Pony and Owl – their coach-she told them about Coyote.

I have told you that Raven was exceptionally good at numbers. She was the team statistition. She knew the point record for each of the competing teams, how many points their players were likely to score in an average game and how many points Raven, Paint Pony, Sheep and Woolly Lamb would need to score to win the game.

Paint Pony was the queen of good sportsmanship. She played the game right and she pleased the audience. The very fact that she was a horse made it ideal for her to come alongside and support the rest of the team – carry them where they needed to go.

On the recommendation of Raven and Paint Pony, Owl invited Coyote to join the team.

Finally, the team had a full roster of five players: Raven and Paint Pony as forwards, Sheep and Woolly Lamb as the guards, and Coyote as center. Sheep and Woolly Lamb were both good at weaving in and out among their competitors, gaining and keeping possession of the ball and setting up the good shots.

Now you would think that a team made up of such talent as Coyote and Raven and Paint Pony and Sheep and Woolly Lamb- all coached by the legendary Owl – would be a dream team. Together they would win every championship. But it was not always so.

“Why do we have to please the audience?” Coyote grumbled one day.

“Because,” said Paint Pony, “if no one pays to see us play, soon there is no place to play. We love to play basketball and the audience loves to see us play basketball. It takes both audience and players to keep the game alive!”

Another day Sheep complained. “Coyote is not doing it the way we have always done it!” Said Sheep. “Coyote, Coyote,” she bleated, “get over here and do it the way we have always done it.”

Look at Sheep,” pointed Coyote, “She is not shooting the ball correctly. Raven taught me to bend my knees more! Raven is our team captain. We need to do it her way!”

But then Owl said, “Coyote, you must learn from Sheep and Woolly Lamb. They have much to offer. Sheep has been a dependable player for many seasons, not only with this team but for other teams as well.

Why do we have to do what Owl says? Grumbled Coyote. Why can’t we just decide what to do and do it?

“Perhaps you don’t know, “ said Raven who (as you know) was always good at numbers, “Owl has to give an answer to the team owners for our wins and losses. If we win, Owl has to be able to tell them why. If we lose, Owl has to figure out why and fix it.”

“But I don’t like Owl,” said Coyote, “Owl is a little bit scary.”

“In some cultures,” said Paint Pony, “Owls represent wisdom.” “You do know,” she neighed, tossing her mane, “Owl played basketball for a number of years herself before she came to be our coach.”

“I know, I know,” said Coyote. “But I know how we can always win. Give me the ball, give me the ball. I score the most points of anyone on the team anyway. Who needs Sheep and Woolly Lamb?”

“What?” said Sheep. “What? Baaed Woolly Lamb

“Time Out!” shouted Owl. “Huddle!” She called them all together to make a team plan.

There is a secret to always winning, said Owl, and that secret is Good Sportsmanship. Good Sportsmanship is made of three ingredients: Loving the game. Pleasing the audience. Working as a team.

You are wasting lots of energy trying to control each other to do it your way. We are called to be leaders – not bosses. And as leaders, we lead by example.

First of all, Coyote, you are the youngest and newest member of this team – and in some ways, the most talented. You have the advantage of being mentored by Raven. But scoring the most points does not make you the coach – nor does it make you Raven’s mouthpiece.

Coyote, I encourage you to lead by setting a good example. Instead of bossing Sheep in how to make a better shot, keep using good form yourself. Sheep is seasoned and wise, she will perfect new ways for herself by observing you.

Sheep, I will now speak to you. You have been longest on the team. You have seen many youngsters come and go. Coyote may seem young and untamed to you, but I ask you to remember the talent she brings to the team. Be open to learning some of the newest techniques Coyote knows from both experience and education.

I will say it again, concluded Owl, “Good Sportsmanship is made of three ingredients: Loving the game. Pleasing the audience. Working as a team.”

“Now let’s get out there and win!

Closing Discussion Questions:

• Owl says, “Good Sportsmanship is made of three ingredients: Loving the game. Pleasing the audience. Working as a team.” How does Good Sportsmanship correlate with Customer Service?
• We don’t hear much about Woolly Lamb in this story. The story seems to be all about Coyote. Why is Woolly Lamb important to the team?
• Why is Paint Pony important to the team? In the story, we are told, “Paint Pony was the queen of good sportsmanship. She played the game right and she pleased the audience. The very fact that she was a horse made it ideal for her to come alongside and support the rest of the team – carry them where they needed to go.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of you may see yourself as Coyote- or Raven- or Paint Pony – Sheep or Wooly Lamb

 

 

Good sportsmanship. Please and entertain the audience.