Ultimate Advice
posted at 6:02 pm
on Oct. 23, 2010
Prrrevious entry:
Interestin' Architecture in th' Vancouver Area
'nother entry:
I’m in Small Claims Court, Part I
This fall, I’m playin' on two Ultimate frisbee teams: Freakshow, and Golden Lassies.
On Freakshow, I’m middle o' th' pack—a good player, but not th' star. I have morrrr experience than a lot o' th' players on th' team, though, and havin' been Cap'n o' East Van Halen fer a few years, and an ultimate player fer 22 years (insert obligatory guffaw here) I feel like I have a fair amount t' offer.
“Well, I’m off t' astonish th' world wi' morrrr feats o' adequataqaticism.” - Bill MacNeil, Newsradio
On Golden Lassies, I’m bottom o' th' team. Not th' worst player every night, but not th' toughest player nor th' most accurate nor th' ... well, let’s not count th' ways I’m not th' best.
Additionally, I’m not as familiar wi' th' Turf-style game, 5-on-5, that Golden Lassies play.
This gives me th' ability t' study one particular aspect o' th' sport from two different angles each week. On Monday, I’m given advice, directly and indirectly, all th' time. And on Saturday, I’m givin' advice, individually and t' th' group. And here be a few things I’ve learned…
“Very adequately matey, I’m virtually burstin' wi' adequatulence.” - Bill MacNeil, Newsradio
1. When givin' advice, nothin' be morrrr frustratin' than th' person who says they’re already tryin' t' do that thin' but can’t. It’s far better t' be contradicted that yer advice be wrong, than be told, “yer advice be correct but I be convinced I can’t do it.”
Look: if ye can’t do it, then ask fer an alternative, step aside fer someone who can, or best case scenario, screw yer courage t' th' stickin' post and just try harder until ye CAN do it. If ye say ye can’t do th' thin' that everyone agrees needs t' be done, then th' situation be basically at an impasse and nothin' will improve.
2. From th' other point o' view, though, it’s really hard t' get told ye should be doin' somethin' that ye’re already tryin' and failin' at. On Monday last, I got told by Jackie, th' team’s assistant Cap'n, that I should stay behind me check. Which I totally agree I should have been doin', and I knew it. It be hard t' hear, and hard t' take action on.
And it did make me try harder. But I like advice that tells me somethin' I don’t already be knowin'. So I try t' do that on Saturdays. And I try t' make me adice actionable—not, “stay behind yer check” but “step back a yard on yer check” or “watch his torso,” which explains HOW t' stay in position, and WHY I’m not doin' a good job.
On th' other hand, advice that’s just wrong; gosh it makes me mad. I won’t list me Monday example, but it wasn’t a point-o'-debate, it be flat-out wrong advice, and that doesn’t help anyone. I don’t need wrong advice. I have enough o' it meself.
3. Delivery, too, counts. I don’t believe in couchin' everythin' as a compliment or a suggestion. If someone be doin' somethin' wrong, I think th' best way t' correct it be through clear, upfront language and earnest direction.
4. Advice should be given soon aft th' advice be needed, not too much later, and it should be given while th' person be still able t' try t' correct th' behavior. Post mortem advice be fine, but far better be a quick suggestion betwixt points, when th' immediate benefit can be seen.
That’s me advice on advice. Take it or weigh anchor it.
Prrrevious entry:
Interestin' Architecture in th' Vancouver Area
'nother entry:
I’m in Small Claims Court, Part I
