Sjoerd Marijne: The Circles Of Attention

Welcome to another issue of The Great Coaches: Leadership and Life newsletter. 

There are just a few days left until the Paris Olympics come to a close, bringing an end to what has been an extremely eventful couple of weeks. From astonishing new records to nail-biting neck-and-necks, this year’s games have been far from boring - I’d love to know what the highlights have been for you so far!

The Well-Rounded Philosophy Of Sjoerd Marijne

Before Sjoerd Marijne became a coach, he was a successful field hockey player who could boast two Dutch National Championship wins and a win at the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup.

His career as a coach began with youth teams; having led the Netherlands’ Under-21 women’s hockey team to a gold medal at the World Cup, he also coached the Under-21 men’s team to a World Cup bronze. Following on from this success, Sjoerd was offered the position of Head Coach of the Dutch senior women’s team - a team that happens to be ranked number one in the world.

In 2017, Sjoerd headed for India, where he worked to bring the Indian national men’s team to a gold medal finish at the Asia Cup before guiding the women’s team to their momentous 4th at the Tokyo Olympics.

In 2021, Sjoerd was voted ‘best coach in the world of a women’s team’ by the International Hockey Association in recognition of his efforts.

Sjoerd has a well-rounded philosophy, which comes across very clearly in conversation. During our interview we spoke on a number of leadership topics, and he gave some fantastic insights into what it took to guide his teams to World Cup, Asia Cup and Olympics success.

From how working with ‘the circles of attention’ helps his athletes to focus and take responsibility to the techniques he employs to help his team improve their decision-making skills, I expect that several of the insights shared during the interview might appeal to (and work well for) a number of our listeners.

Personally, I enjoyed hearing about the way Sjoerd created a vision for the Indian team and then broke it down into daily goals that promoted and supported the behaviours required to realise their Olympic dream. This method, using positive ‘bite-size’ steps, is one that I think could apply in any number of situations and I would be very interested to hear how it works for you if you decide to put it in practice with your own team.

Listen Now: Apple | Spotify

What Do You Stand For?

If you’ve spent any time in a corporate setting, then you’re no doubt familiar with the concept of a ‘Mission Statement’. Appearing frequently on website ‘about us’ pages and in recruitment materials, mission statements briefly convey an organisation’s purpose, beliefs, and values in a way that appeals and makes sense to potential customers, clients, employees and stakeholders.

One thing you may not be so familiar with, however, is the idea of a personal mission statement.

In this clip from our interview with basketball’s Gail Goestenkors, she shares one of her most recent personal mission statements, and explains why she reviews her statement each year to make sure it still aligns with her beliefs and the values at the core of her leadership.

If you enjoyed this clip, then you should take a trip over to our website where you’ll find a wealth of insights taken from interviews with over 200 of the sporting world’s greatest coaches.

In Case You Missed It…

Breaking Barriers

If you’re looking for some Friday motivation, then this clip from ESPN could be exactly what you need.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis while still at High School, Kayla Montgomery has never let her condition hold her back. Instead, she has thrown herself into Track and Field, becoming one of her country’s best young distance runners.

A fantastic reminder of what willpower and determination can achieve.

Inspiration From The Great Coaches

If you’re looking for new ways to motivate and inspire your team, then we can help.

Using clips and quotes from our interviews with over 200 Great Coaches, we can create unique and engaging presentations that speak directly to the challenges and situations faced by you and your team.

Our presentations can be delivered both virtually and in-person. For more information, check out the video below.

Challenge Yourself with the Macquarie MBA

This newsletter is brought to you by Macquarie University Business School’s MBA program. Designed to empower, challenge and transform, the Macquarie MBA gives you the business skills and knowledge you need to succeed in an evolving global economy.

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Find out more: https://www.mq.edu.au/macquarie-business-school/