What The Recent NFL Playoff Games Taught Us About An Organization’s Culture

A few weeks back, I finished one of the best leadership books I have ever read. “Let Them Lead” by John U. Bacon, a Michigan high school hockey coach, talks about how he took over the worst high school hockey program in the state and turned it into one of the best in the state. The book gives a step-by-step clinic on building a successful organization.

He bases success on three main objectives – Creating the Culture, Building Trust and Giving Control.

As I watched that those playoff games that weekend (which were all fantastic), I saw several instances of Coach Bacon’s philosophy. I could tell right away that these teams had created a successful culture. One of Coach Bacon’s strongest points is the “giving control” aspect which directs you to create layers of leadership on your team. Trust THEM to make as many decisions as possible. If your team succeeds, let them take the credit and, if they fail, you take full responsibility (of course, with the caveat of supervising the fix).

Having some football coaching and playing experience, I can tell you that good decision makers ON the field are just as important as having the ones on the sidelines. I knew our team had an advantage when I would see the opposition always looking to the sidelines for some guidance in certain situations. There were no on-field leaders. I still note that the pro teams I see, who are constantly looking to the sidelines, are the ones that have the most issues especially in the win-loss column.

Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams showed specific examples of GIVING CONTROL. The Bengals had already beaten the top seed in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans, and then they did it again. Coming back from an 18-point deficit to win in overtime on a field goal from their 23-year old rookie, Evan MacPherson. The second week in a row he’d won the game for his team! We saw the same cool and calm of quarterback Joe Burrow in this game as in the last one. Never once did he glance to the sidelines. His coach trusted this TWO-YEAR NFL player to take care of business on the field.

The Rams, meanwhile, were led by a quarterback who, in his first 11 years in the league, had never been to any postseason championship game, let alone a Super Bowl, Matthew Stafford, and another coach, who let his players play – Sean McVay. As a matter of fact, after a key missed third down conversion attempt by the Rams late in the game, McVay visibly took the blame for the unsuccessful play. Did not single out one player. AND…not once did I ever see Stafford look to the sidelines. He was definitely the on-field leader and McVay trusted him.

Find those types of leaders for your organization and, when you find them, as Coach Bacon says, LET THEM LEAD. Sean McVay and Zac Taylor (the Bengals’ Head Coach) got out of the way and let their players lead. Find those people who you are confident will not be looking to the sidelines for help. Give them control and watch how YOUR team responds!!

Dave’s Four takeaways to consider for your team.

1. Trust (and Belief). Give your proven players and performers the trust to win and the belief they will.
2. Confidence. If you’ve done a strong job with your team already, they’ll have the confidence to make the call or make a change. Don’t ask them to look at you (or the sidelines) constantly
3. Honesty. If you’re not comfortable to have them call an audible, then tell them why and what they have to do to improve that security you need in them
4. Practice. Business role playing and having them prepared is just like practice on the field for an NFL player. If they’ve seen it before, they’ll live it under pressure.

Want more help from a couple of guys who know it, because they’ve lived it. Hit us up anytime. Radio’s Fresh eyes.