Touch. It's a complicated and even a negative word in today's culture and that's rightly deserved. However, we are physical beings so physical contact was meant to be a positive part of our existence. In roughly a 3 week span a few years ago, I was inundated with information on the positive power that touch has. It changed how I saw the opportunity that we all have to inspire and encourage each other. Here is what bombarded me in a very short time span a few years ago...
John Calipari, the hall of fame head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky, wrote a book, Players First. In it he shares a segment how he never walks past his players on campus without touching them; a fist bump, a hug, a high five, or an arm around a shoulder. Calipari goes on to say that he does this so that his player's never have a doubt about how he feels about them. Touch, in that way, removes doubt and instills belief.
Steve Nash, at the time, was coming off one of the most unexpected runs of excellence in NBA history. Nash, a tiny Canadian point guard, had just been named the MVP of the NBA. Twice! He was also rated the player that other players wanted to play with most. This is an unusual combination. Usually, high achieving performers are not exactly fun to be around. Testimonies of the teammates of all time greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would be a great example. High achievers are usually too obsessed, too driven, and have little tolerance for others who are not just like them. Tolerable? Yes. Someone you desire to be around all of the time? Not exactly. Steve Nash was not just tolerable but players wanted to be around him. The deep dive into this two year run revealed an interesting fact; Nash was an obsessive positive toucher. Hundreds of times each game, he would fist bump, high five, back slap, and pick his teammates up. You can watch a fun video about that here.
Dr. Brent Haggerty was my pastor at the time at Stonecrest Community Church in Warren, NJ. He delivered an amazing sermon on the importance of physical touch in Jesus' ministry here on earth. He healed people, hugged people, helped them up, and never pushed them away.
John Calipari, the hall of fame head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky, wrote a book, Players First. In it he shares a segment how he never walks past his players on campus without touching them; a fist bump, a hug, a high five, or an arm around a shoulder. Calipari goes on to say that he does this so that his player's never have a doubt about how he feels about them. Touch, in that way, removes doubt and instills belief.
Steve Nash, at the time, was coming off one of the most unexpected runs of excellence in NBA history. Nash, a tiny Canadian point guard, had just been named the MVP of the NBA. Twice! He was also rated the player that other players wanted to play with most. This is an unusual combination. Usually, high achieving performers are not exactly fun to be around. Testimonies of the teammates of all time greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would be a great example. High achievers are usually too obsessed, too driven, and have little tolerance for others who are not just like them. Tolerable? Yes. Someone you desire to be around all of the time? Not exactly. Steve Nash was not just tolerable but players wanted to be around him. The deep dive into this two year run revealed an interesting fact; Nash was an obsessive positive toucher. Hundreds of times each game, he would fist bump, high five, back slap, and pick his teammates up. You can watch a fun video about that here.
Dr. Brent Haggerty was my pastor at the time at Stonecrest Community Church in Warren, NJ. He delivered an amazing sermon on the importance of physical touch in Jesus' ministry here on earth. He healed people, hugged people, helped them up, and never pushed them away.
Positive touch removes doubt, instills belief, draws people in, and lifts people up.
So maybe you're an introvert and all of this touch-stuff makes you feel creepy. Maybe you're in a work atmosphere where this would be frowned upon. That's fine. My larger point is we have more control over our ability to positively influence people than we think we do. We just have to be aware of how simple it is and how badly people need it.
Now be grateful that I'm not standing there with you because we would totally be high fiving right now.
So maybe you're an introvert and all of this touch-stuff makes you feel creepy. Maybe you're in a work atmosphere where this would be frowned upon. That's fine. My larger point is we have more control over our ability to positively influence people than we think we do. We just have to be aware of how simple it is and how badly people need it.
Now be grateful that I'm not standing there with you because we would totally be high fiving right now.
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on relentlessly leading yourself and others well. Read about it more here.
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader with more than two decades of experience. He’s earned a few degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school sweetheart and they have three teen age children. Life is messy and complicated most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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