Keys to Building a Successful Culture
A head football coach at any level must build the right culture before success can be realized. First, it is crucial for the head coach to put a staff in place that supports his philosophy and vision for running the program. Second, a head coach must assess the talent on the team and work tirelessly to develop and manage it.
Coaching success brings about new opportunities. In a January 2017 blog, I highlighted what I believe to be “17 Visionary Head Coaches” along with my take on their coaching and decision-making styles. Two of those seventeen coaches, PJ Fleck and Tom Herman, parlayed their success last season into new jobs. At Minnesota, PJ Fleck is working on building the brand of his new team, raising awareness of his program at a national scale. Those around Fleck immediately see his Blazing and Energizing style and determination to succeed.
With Tom Herman, his focus at Texas is getting the players to understand that “you don’t matter”. Football is a team sport and you must realize that it is a privilege to play for the university. Herman tells everyone that this is his dream job, and he is committed to getting the program back to where it used to be. He will be instituting the same processes that made him successful in his most recent stop at Houston, taking a Bold and Tactical approach to decision-making. For more information about PJ Fleck and Tom Herman and their coaching approaches, read a previous blog titled “Are your employees all in?” which gives more background on these two coaches.
Sean McVay did not make my “17 Visionary Head Coaches” list because he recently became a head coach for the first time. He is taking over the Los Angeles Rams program as the youngest ever at the NFL level (31). After six months on the job, Coach McVay says his focus is demonstrating to his team the importance of showing mental toughness and being flexible when challenging situations come up.
At Learning Curve Consultants®, we understand the importance of getting off on the right foot as a leader of a new team or department. It is vital to understand who you are so you can play to your strengths and complement any “blind spots” you may have. For seasoned leaders, it’s also important to align yourself with peers.
Email us at info@lc-consultants.com to learn more about how we can help your organization Unleash Your Talent®.