Drop The Game Face!

Posted by Scott Williams
16 Comments
December 8, 2010
Leaders | Leadership | Life Application

I recently had lunch with a friend of mine who happens to be a college basketball coach.  I talked to him about balancing his games and the games of the recruits during this busy time of year.  He replied with the following statement, “I don’t spend much time watching recruits at their games…  I prefer to watch them at practice.  I don’t like all the gamesmanship that goes on because a recruiter is at the game and neither do their coaches.”

This is true for so many areas of life, people go around and put on the fake game face.  When the boss comes around they put on The Game Face, when the recruiters come around they put on The Game Face, when the pastor comes around they put on The Game Face, when their spouse comes around they put on The Game Face and the list goes on and on.

The Game Face isn’t what matters; how you practice is what really matters.  Don’t play the game and put on The Game Face.  Your life is your practice.  A wise man once told me that “perfect practice makes perfect.”

Quit playing the games.

Drop The Game Face and Keep It Real!

Why do people put on the game face?  Why is it so hard to be authentic and keep it real?

  • http://charleskosuji.typepad.com Charles Kelechi

    Nice post Scott, I think sometimes our society rewards the game face and people just follow the trend, but it always catches up at some point. It is never a good way to live a fulfilling life.

    • Scott Williams

      Amen… unfortunately it’s so easy to do.

  • jimmy hankins

    see, I MEANT to post my comments to this in “Excellent Solution To Manage Your Small Groups” because that way it’d make me look REALLY clever! Anybody buying? Is my game face slipping? I need more coffee…

    • Scott Williams

      (grin)

  • Adolfo Morales

    People put their game faces on because they have been trained to do so. From the time we are kids: “Grandma is coming over you better be on your best behavior,” “My boss is coming for dinner tonight, the house better be spotless,” “The principal is on his way, you better shape up.” AS we grow this attitude is cemented in us through the different seasons of our life. By the time we hit the real world, we’ve been conditioned to make it look pretty only when it has to look pretty and everything will be okay.

    Understanding that, it’s hard to be real because we don’t know how to be real. We haven’t seen a “real person” in very many encounters. From childhood on up we’ve only seen people faking it. Since we learn what we experience, people essentially don’t know how to be real.

    • Scott Williams

      Ouch… so true, thx for the perspective and the best behavior for grandma comment

  • Janelle Heald

    Just thinking out loud, but sometimes at work especially I feel like they are looking for the game face. Which is sad! I wish I could get rewarded for being real. I keep reminding myself that I work for the Glory of God and not man.

    • Scott Williams

      Often times the game face is what is rewarded.

  • http://seekingpastor.wordpress.com seekingpastor

    Fear of being judged may be one reason. Some have been transparent with others only to later be gossiped about or shunned. Living in such a way so others are comfortable taking their game faces off around us is a worhty goal.

    • Scott Williams

      I talked w/ a young lady today that really struggled with the what people think and being judged. Constant struggle, constant tension

  • http://livingonthenextlevel.blogspot.com Colby Brown

    Great post, Scott! This goes along perfectly with LifeChurch’s recent series Masquerade. We’re all guilty at times of putting on The Game Face (the mask). Thanks for a great reminder that I need to drop the mask.. My high school music director always told me “perfect practice makes perfect.” I have never heard anyone else say that.. Thanks again for your leadership.

    • Scott Williams

      It was the owner o the private school that my boys used to attend… He would always drill that into the kids. Practice on the right things in other words.

  • http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com Dionna

    I don’t know. It is one of my life’s goals to be authentic, genuine, and real. What you see is what you get with me.

    • Scott Williams

      Great Goal… it’s freeing when you can get to that place

  • http://www.robinalewis.com Robin Lewis

    I think all of us do to a certain extent… but it is good to be reminded. I am always challenged with the 11th commandment, thou shall not kid thyself.
    Thanks for sharing!

  • Scott Williams

    LOL

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