Set the Table
Leaders need to prepare themselves for tough conversations. That’s what leaders do. Leaders care too much about those around them, not to have those conversations when the situation requires it. Those conversations aren’t easy, not even for the strongest of leaders. It requires practice. Players need reps. It’s important to start training for the trial your not yet it.
In order to have effective conversations, players need to learn to balance love (sugar) & truth (salt).
Being able to speak kindly, gentle and with love can go a long way and in this exercise we call that “Sugar.”
Truth is what we know it to be, the truth, which is sometimes painful and harsh. We call truth in this exercise “Salt.”
Through this exercise your players will get their reps to cook up a recipe combining the perfect amounts of sugar and salt.
"Sugar and Salt is such a simple, yet powerful exercise that has transformed my students communication. You'll now hear students use the sugar & salt language as they help each other better communicate. It's amazing"
Rob Dinsdale
Assistant Principal, Crocus Plains High School, Brandon Manitoba Canada
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Lesson Plan
Student Growth Areas
Exercise Length
Language Guide
Sugar
Communicating with respect, kindness, and love
Salt
Communicating in a very direct manner, straight-forward and frank
Additional Resources
Exercise Reminder Card
To emphasize and reinforce the lessons learned in this exercise with your players, download and share this graphic with them 24 hours after completing the exercise.
Exercise Slides
Powerpoint slides ready for you to use
Quiz Questions
Use these questions below to engage after you have taught the exercise.
- What does it mean to communicate with Sugar?
- What does it mean to communicate with Salt?
- Share and explain at least two of the four Guardrails.
At Home
Coaches, use the below question, reflection, and action to engage parents, guardians, and other family members in the lessons learned in this exercise.
Suggestions on how to use: Email to parents the day you have taught this lesson, add it to the materials you send home, or text it to text message threads with your players.
- Question: what does it mean to communicate with Sugar and Salt?
- Reflection: Why do leaders need to learn the balance of the two?
- Action: Share an example from the lesson with your family and illustrate what the perfect blend of Sugar and Salt would look and sound like
Teacher Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on the lesson and how you can lead by example to your students.
As a teacher how well do you honor the four Guardrails and allow them to influence how you balance Sugar and Salt? Which Guardrail do you need to be more conscious of?
Special Assignment
- Question: what does it mean to communicate with Sugar and Salt?
- Reflection: Why do leaders need to learn the balance of the two?
- Action: Share an example from the lesson with your family and illustrate what the perfect blend of Sugar and Salt would look and sound like