Coach John Tauer is a distinguished basketball coach at St. Thomas University with a doctorate in social psychology which provides him a unique blend of academic expertise and coaching prowess to the hardwoods.  

Coach Tauer has recently led St. Thomas's transition from Division III to Division I, he has established himself as an authority on sports psychology, particularly focusing on the dynamics between parents, coaches, and young athletes. 

Coach Tauer is also the author of a book addressing the concept of "WASP" (Well-Intentioned Over-Involved Sports Parent), drawing from his extensive experience running basketball camps and his academic research on motivation in sports. 

Reflection Questions

1. How might your own expectations and involvement in your child's or athletes' sports experience be impacting their ability to develop resilience and cope with failure?

2. In what specific ways could you reframe your definition of success in youth sports beyond winning to focus more on character development, teamwork, and personal growth?

3. When was the last time you allowed your athlete to experience a natural consequence in sports without intervening, and what did you observe about their growth from that experience?

4. How are you currently balancing the desire to protect your child/athlete from disappointment with the need to help them develop coping skills for future challenges?

5. What role are you currently playing in your child's or athletes' sports experience (coach, parent, or fan), and how might shifting your approach in that role better support their development of autonomy and intrinsic motivation?

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Dr. Amy Edmondson is the Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, a world-renowned expert on psychological safety, and the pioneering researcher who first identified and defined the concept. She is a #1 ranked management thinker by Thinkers50 and the award-winning author of several groundbreaking books including "The Fearless Organization" and her latest work "Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive." Her research on team learning, psychological safety, and organizational innovation has transformed how leaders approach building high-performing teams across industries worldwide.

Questions for personal reflection & journaling

1. What specific moments in your life have shaped your relationship with failure, and how might these experiences be limiting your growth today? Consider the learning opportunities you might be missing by avoiding certain risks.
2. What elements create psychological safety for you in your most comfortable environments, and how might you recreate these conditions in teams you lead or participate in?
3. How do you typically respond when someone shares a mistake or failure with you, and what would a more curiosity-driven response look like in practice?
4. What language patterns do you use when addressing setbacks with others, and how might you better separate events (failures, mistakes, losses) from a person's identity or worth?
5. What specific questions could you introduce in your next team meeting to invite diverse perspectives, and how might these questions shift your team's dynamic toward greater psychological safety?

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Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

Download my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40books

Subscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantage

Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Coach Matthew Mitchell is the all-time winningest coach in University of Kentucky women’s basketball history, leading the Wildcats to over 300 wins, three Elite Eight appearances, and securing SEC Coach of the Year honors three times. Known for his dynamic leadership and culture-driven approach, Mitchell built Kentucky into a national powerhouse during his 13-year tenure. After a life-altering brain injury and successful recovery, he’s returned to coaching as the head coach at the University of Houston, bringing renewed purpose and elite-level experience. Coach Mitchell is also the author of two best selling books including his latest, Ready to Win: How Great Leaders Succeed Through Preparation.

Topics

-Lessons learned from a traumatic brain injury 

-Excellence vs. Perfection in coaching

-Define success in coaching

-Challenges that come with standout players

-Teaching accountability in a team

-The importance of honesty & optimism

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

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Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

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Subscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantage

Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

David Burkus is a highly sought-after international speaker and bestselling author. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s top business thought leaders. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USA today and many more. David also has a Ted Talk that has over 2 million views.

Topics

-How to create culture beyond core values 

-Strategies to create buy-in and common understanding 

-David’s go-to team building exercise

-Why and how to become a question asking leader

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

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Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

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Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

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Subscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantage

Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Anthony Robles is an NCAA Division I National Wrestling Champion who achieved extraordinary success despite being born with only one leg. As one of the most inspiring figures in sports history, Anthony dominated collegiate wrestling at Arizona State University, culminating in an undefeated senior season and national championship victory that showcased his remarkable technical skill and mental fortitude. Beyond his athletic achievements, Anthony has become a powerful motivational voice, demonstrating that perceived limitations can become the foundation for unprecedented accomplishment when paired with unwavering determination and the right mindset. He also has a brand new movie titled Unstoppable which is available on Amazon Prime.

Topics

-The power of perspective and mental lenses

-How to set goals and focus on the process

-Mental performance strategies of becoming a national champion

-How Anthony overcame adversity in junior season

-The importance of having a strong support system

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

Download my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40books

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Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

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