In the locker room before the game, coaches tend to focus on matters of motivation, establishing that the contest about to begin will be quite challenging but that the team has a real chance to win if members play hard and well. Halftime, back in the locker room, is a time for consultation, revising the game strategy for the second half of play based on how things have gone thus far. The next day, when the team has gathered to review the game films, is the time when coaches focus on education, helping to build individual and team proficiency in preparation for the team’s next contest.
No matter how well-designed, well-timed, and well-executed coaching interventions are, they are unlikely to be of much help if a team’s overall performance situation is poor. If members are unclear about what they are supposed to accomplish, if the team or its task are badly designed, or if the surrounding organization places obstacle after obstacle in the team’s path, then a leader would be well advised to focus first on solving these more fundamental problems.