How to Raise Your Team's Standard (When Nobody Else Will)

Let me tell you about Michael Jordan in 1990.

Not the championship Jordan. Not the GOAT Jordan. I'm talking about the Jordan who kept getting bulldozed by the Bad Boy Pistons. The one who got pushed around, beat up, and eliminated from the playoffs three years in a row.

Here's what most people don't know: After getting knocked out in 1990, Jordan didn't just hit the gym. He hit the weight room. Added 15 pounds of muscle. Started showing up at 7am to lift while his teammates were still sleeping.

But here's the crazy part - he didn't just transform himself. His intensity in practice became legendary. He'd trash talk teammates, challenge them, push them to their limits. Some days, practice was harder than the actual games.

The result? The entire team's standard went up. They had to - because one guy refused to accept mediocrity.

That's what I want to talk about today. Because your team's in a slump, and posting motivational quotes on the group chat isn't fixing it.

Here's the playbook for being the change agent your team needs right now:

1. Be the "energy bank", not the "energy vampire." Think Sidney Crosby in practice. The guy who's still working on his edges and stickhandling after everyone's left the ice. Known for his legendary early-morning workouts and attention to detail in practice.

• Energy vampires: Show up late, complain about ice time, body language screams "I don't want to be here"

• Energy banks: Show up early, bring intensity to every drill, pick teammates up after a bad shift

Fun fact: Energy is contagious. Just ask Alex Ovechkin's teammates - they've watched him practice his one-timer from "his office" for years. It's become his signature shot not because of natural talent alone, but because of thousands of repetitions when no one was watching.

2. Raise the standard in practice. Remember when Connor McDavid changed how players train in the offseason? His edge work drills with skills coach Joe Quinn revolutionized how players approach skill development. Now every young player is pushing their limits with edge work and speed training. Why? Because one guy raised the bar.

When you're going full speed in a "meaningless" drill, it has a ripple effect. When you're battling in the corners during practice while others are going through the motions, it forces a choice: match your intensity or look lazy by comparison. When you're celebrating great plays in practice and asking for extra reps, it creates a new normal.

3. Have the uncomfortable conversations. Look at Jonathan Toews during the Blackhawks' championship runs. There's a reason they called him Captain Serious. He earned respect not just from his play, but from his willingness to have those tough locker room conversations when the team wasn't performing.

Maybe your team's dealing with:

• Bad body language after goals against

• People forming cliques

• Low effort in practice

• Drama from lineup changes

Most players see these issues and think "not my problem."

But here's the thing - if you see it, it is your problem.

4. Focus on the controllables. Take it from Martin St. Louis - undrafted, told he was too small, cut from multiple teams. He couldn't control his height or what scouts thought. But he controlled his effort, his skill development, his attitude. Ended up in the Hall of Fame.

You can't control:

• Who starts

• Ice time

• Line combinations

• Other teams

You can control:

• Your effort level

• Your attitude

• Your preparation

• Your response to adversity

5. Be the vibe you want to see. Look at Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews together in Chicago - different personalities, but they complemented each other perfectly. Kane brought the lighthearted energy, Toews brought the intensity, and together, they created a culture of excellence.

• Celebrate teammates' success

• Create locker room traditions

• Keep it light when things are tense

• Show up early to work on skills (and invite others)

Here's the thing about team sports that nobody tells you: Culture isn't created by coaches. It's created by players. One decision at a time. One practice at a time. One game at a time.

Remember that Jordan story I started with? By 1991, they won their first championship. By 1993, they had a three-peat. All because one player decided to raise the standard.

So here's my question: Why not you?

-Mike

P.S. Next time you're at practice, ask yourself: Am I bringing the team energy or just going through the motions? Because in hockey, like life, you don't rise to the occasion - you fall to your level of preparation.

That’s all for now! Hope you enjoyed it.

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Thank you!

Mike