The 3rd C is Constant. It is quite a bit different than the rest of our C's because it comes down to who you are.
On the most basic level, who you are from day to day and the values you hold to are who you are and ultimately what your program will be. There is an old saying that "you can't give away what you don't possess" that this constant. It is your purpose, mission statement, vision----whatever you want to call it. At ICP, we go back and forth on the value of getting those down on paper because we so often get mission statement get written and never talked about again. Dustin is a big believer in the 6-word purpose statement. However, it is of the UTMOST importance to understand who you are and what you value the most. Whether you have a purpose or mission statement doesn't matter...you will still talk about what you value.
There are some coaches out there that possess the ability to change the climate of a program by simply be there. They raise everyone's behavior and effort simply by being there. The student-athletes consistently hear the voice of their coach in their head, and they always feel like he/she is watching. Not even in a bad way---just simply their expectation is always there.
How do they do this? Well, first of all, they are they know what they are talking about (competent) in their sport and leadership and have found a way to make everyone feel of their team and community (care). Without a doubt, they do have a gift of presence, but at ICP we believe that this presence is second to who they are as people. Their core values and what they talk about align with their actions day to day. In the big moments, in the small moments, and everything in between. They are consistent and CONSTANT.
Constancy is about the coach's unwavering commitment to the athlete or team's development and success. It's about being there for the athletes, providing continuous support, and staying committed to their growth, regardless of the challenges or setbacks. Constancy is about perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity and being the same person through it all.
When Dustin and I were developing the concept of the 3 "C"'s, we thought that consistent would potentially be the 3rd "C”, but we kept coming down to constant because it has to be constant. There can be no failing at the values in the moment. Brett Ledbetter speaks to this well when he says that "how you manage moments that catch you off guard is where trust is earned and lost". Fast forward to around 12 minutes to catch that part of the conversation.
Over time, we will get more into constant and the development of values and standards within a program and as a leader. There are a ton of resources out there for stuff like this. If you want a sneak peak, I encourage you to listen to our podcasts with either Bruce Brown or Rob Miller from ProActive Coaching. They are some of the best!