It is Super Bowl Sunday as I write this. This year is a battle between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Two storied franchises. I was originally going to look at another coach, but instead I read and found some principles that have helped the coaches of these teams get their teams to the Super Bowl.
Trust
While researching I found an article highlighting what Andy Reid did in the beginning of his tenure at Kansas City to turn the team around. He intentionally built trust by creating a leadership committee with the players. Being around sports for many years personally I saw this was an effective tool for building leaders on the team.
This type of “committee” creates an environment to build open communication. When there is open communication with the leader issues can be addressed more quickly. Open communication will increase trust. When a team moves at the speed of trust, they can move much faster.
Culture
One article I read highlighted the culture that the 49ers have explicitly developed. Reid has developed a culture of trust and Shanahan has created core values to guide the team. Values such as mutual respect, competition with collaboration, empowering players, and focusing on fundamentals.
A team that is clear on its values will be able to make decisions more effectively. Take Johnson and Johnson in 1982 for example. When they decided to remove all Tylenol products after they learned people died from it being laced with arsenic, this was guided by their values. Values create the foundation of a team’s culture.
Strategy
Football is a game of strategy, not just during the season, but also in the off-season. Who will they keep? Who will they trade? Who will they draft? All these decisions, informed by a clear picture of the culture they want to create, are strategic.
People have differing opinions on the 49ers leadership, but as one writer reflected back they could see how their off-season personnel strategy has gotten them where they are. Once the season starts each team must trust their coaches, build the culture, and execute a strategy that is often adjusted along the way.
Consistency
Each team has gotten to this level because of consistency. The Chief’s players know what they get with Andy Reid. Some criticize Shanahan’s lack of emotion, but he is consistent. This is not an exciting word, but as leadership expert John Maxwell puts it . . . “Consistency compounds.”
If people feel they are walking on eggshells with you as a leader then you probably are not consistent. When people on the team know they will get a reliable response, whether in good or bad times, this builds trust and confidence and a willingness to take risks that will bring about growth.
As you look at these four areas, which one do you need to develop? Take a minute to reflect on these four areas and pick one to develop over the next week or two. People do not become champions by accident. Consistent cultures that develop trust and have a clear strategy they execute daily will climb the mountain of success. Keep growing and climbing and if I can help you think into your results contact me for a powerful coaching session. Lead Well.
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https://people.com/sports/all-about-andy-reid-kansas-city-chiefs-coach/
https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/drawing-leadership-lessons-from-the-49ers-super-bowl-run-b41dc090efdb
https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/the-49ers-have-a-leadership-problem