Taking the lessons of 2020, transformational leadership requires a change in mindset, approach, and commitment.

These days, everyone is finding themselves on video calls, often for much of the day. While we may feel comfortable in a more casual setting with colleagues, there are times where we must be more polished and professional. One of those moments is when we are hosting or participating in webinars, especially ones that get… Read more »

It’s been a tough year of far too many things disrupting the normalcy we once took for granted. COVID-19 came with a rampage, and social injustices soared throughout the year. The election battle took over the news while remote learning and working from home challenged our daily routines. Things like sports programs and extracurriculars have… Read more »

In a recent interview with Marc Strauss, a sports journalist with WJBC radio in Central Illinois, Barb Smith discusses the newly launched Find My Team, a platform and service created to assist student-athletes, parents, and coaches with the tools necessary to better navigate the challenging collegiate recruiting process.

In the sports world, cross-training is essential in developing a well-rounded and physically healthy athlete. Cross-training is using several modes of exercise to develop an athlete and sometimes pairing different workouts together to support each other. For example, yoga is an excellent pairing for almost any type of athlete, as yoga cross-training promotes stretching, strength,… Read more »

Listen to this interview with Barb Smith where she discusses her career in sports, starting at an early age, and as she shares stories of those that influenced her actions, and how a specific mindset, tactics, and themes allowed her to set and achieve a lifetime of goals.

Every day we are faced with obstacles, challenges, and situations that force us to reframe our goals, daily tasks, and our dreams. We have to make tough choices when these events take place. We are continually adjusting, recreating, reprogramming, and rewriting our stories. This guest blog post, written by Debbie Hugg, is a story of… Read more »

Teamwork is an essential component of all successful groups of people who come together to accomplish a common goal. Many successful teams in sports, business, politics, communities, and family exist. There are pitfalls, though, that disrupt great teamwork and eventually break down the effectiveness of teams.  Here are four tips for fostering and developing an… Read more »

Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team A comprehensive guide for how to build a championship team. BLOOMINGTON, Illinois, July 07, 2020 – Courtside Leadership has announced the release of Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team, now available on Amazon. Authored by Barb Smith, a thirty-year veteran of the NCAA Division I… Read more »

Leaders all over the world have the inherent responsibility to provide vision and direction, set policies, determine bottom lines, define and nurture culture, and to keep their people safe.  The recent events of COVID-19 and George Floyd’s murder now weigh heavily on leaders to continue stepping up and do something. Many have already done a fantastic… Read more »