What Kind Of Coach Are You? 5 NFL Coaches: 5 Distinct Management Styles

Now that it is football season, all the men in America will be glued to their TV sets every Sunday for no less than 7 hours.  Some will get up to scratch their butts, replenish their chips, or get another beer during a commercial, while others will spend most of the day tracking their fantasy football team and rooting for each player they "own".  Helping to urge their players on and to win football games for their team will be each NFL coach.  There has been a great deal of turnover in the NFL coaching ranks over the past few years, but there are a few NFL coaches who have been very successful and as a result they've stayed with their teams a long time.  Here is a look at 5 of these coaches and what management style they might employ while working the sidelines.  Keep in mind they all use a little bit of each style in order to get the most out of their players.  If you're a manager, in any profession, you might want to follow suit.

• Jay Gruden- If you refer to my post about management styles Jay would fit into the category of the "Newbie".  He is new to the head coaching ranks having spent a lot of time at as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator most recently for the Cincinnati Bengals and Marvin Lewis.  Jay like most managers is not new to the game but being a head football coach is a lot different than being an assistant, and he has a lot to learn.  As a newbie he will be trying out all the schemes and theories he developed as an assistant, seeing if they work for his team, and there will be a lot of ups and downs his first season.  His theories and ideas will meet with cynicism from the veterans and with enthusiasm from the rookies, but he must stick to his vision.   Just like a new manager, Jay is not going to win a lot of games in his first year, but if he's successful he'll establish good working relationships with his key players,  and his team will be more successful this year than they were last year.  It's important as a newbie that he gets the support of his employees or rather players, in order for him to have long term success.  As you know without the support of your people, a coach or manager may be good, but never great.  Good luck to Jay, the Newbie!
• Tom Coughlin- In his first few years as head coach of the NY Giants, Tom Coughlin's management style could be characterized as an absolute Nazi.  He ruled with an iron fist and if his players got even the slightest bit out of line, he punished them pretty severely.  He's an older coach so I'm certain this worked for him for a long time, especially since he was so successful in Jacksonville previously. However, times change and so do employees/players attitudes.  With his military type style he was definitely a winner, and he pushed his players hard to be their best.  Her earned the nickname "Colonel Coughlin" often fining players for being 2 minutes early to meetings when his expectations were that they be 5 minutes early.  WTF? When he fined Michael Strahan for being early but not early enough, that's when his tenure as a Nazi manager ended.  The players no longer supported this type of management style and their was dissension on the team. Coughlin needed to ease up a bit and stop shouting and start caring about his players.  He soften his stance a bit, and it worked!  With the support and respect of his players he won 2 Super Bowls and both of them against one of the greatest teams in history, the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.  Even a Nazi can change his ways.
• Pete Carroll - Is it just me, or do any of you feel that it would be a great experience to work with Pete Carroll? I know there are a lot of people that don't like him, or his style, but he just seems like such a positive guy!  He is always the center of attention wherever he goes, and on a team filled with stars like Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and Richard Sherman, that's a pretty impressive statement.   He is what many people call an Expressive or a Peacock manager.   It's pretty much all about him...., and he knows it, and he loves it.  He effuses confidence in both himself and his players, which translates into confidence on the field.  Pete is very influential will both his players and the media and he can SELL.   He sells you on how great he is everyday, how great his team is, and how hard they work.  His employees/players do their absolute best to please him and themselves, and it creates a team unity of "us against the world".  Even if many people view this as arrogant, his expressive style of management seems to be working.  He's won 2 NCAA College Football Championships and a Super Bowl.  Like it or not, this management style can work, as long as a manager has the supporting cast and crew to pull it off.  Obviously Pete Carroll has every one's "buy-in" and support.   
• Bill Belichick - I watch Bill Belichick as he patrols the sidelines for the New England Patriots and I think, "how the hell did this guy get to be a coach?".  He's grumpy, irritable, and seems like he hates his job and he hates his players.  He wears an ugly hoodie to work, looks like he's been up day and night reviewing film, and he probably has a process for everything his players do, including going to the bathroom. He is the consummate Micro Manager and it seems like his players and the rest of the employees would hate working with him.  So why has he been so successful?  Why he has he won 3 Super Bowls, and lost 2 Super Bowls in heart breaking fashion?  Because Bill Belichick is not a consummate Micro Manager, he has learn to delegate, and he has learned to trust.   When he was in Cleveland, like all new coaches/managers, he tried to control everything and he performed poorly, compiling a 36-44 record in 5 seasons.  Yet when he arrived in New England, he had learned from his experience in Cleveland, that he could delegate control of player personnel to Scott Pioli, and in turn he could focus on his getting his team ready to play football. Moreover, he taught his assistant coaches his systems and allowed them to do their jobs.  Therefore despite his best intentions to manage and control every situation, Belichick evolved, delegated, and became a better coach as a result.
• Mike Tomlin - I just realized that Mike Tomlin is only 42 years old.  That's pretty young for a coach that has won one Super Bowl and lost another one.  In addition, he's only been a head coach for 7 years, and never had a losing season. Why has he been so successful?  Many would argue that he inherited a great team from Bill Cowher and just built upon that legacy.  However, taking over a great team and leading them to a Super Bowl victory is not an easy task, and Tomlin accomplished this in only his second year as a head coach.  What has made him successful is his ability to listen to his players, develop a plan for the team, and help them execute their plan successfully.  During his tenure, he has supported his players, even in the face of controversy, and they have rewarded him with great play on the field.  He is a Mentor manager, who assesses the situation, gets feedback from his employees/players and makes his decision based upon their feedback.  Moreover, he gets everyone in the organization involved and Tomlin takes an active interest in players and coaches personal development and not just their professional one.  Hopefully in the future he'll learn to not get too involved in the games, like last year when he interfered with a kick returner racing down the sidelines.  There's a difference between being "in to the game", and actually in the game.  Tomlin needs to continue to Mentor his players and let them play the game.   Hopefully his approach will continue to keep him and his team successful. 

These coaches and their distinct styles have all made them a success, with the exception of Jay Gruden who is a new coach.  However, they also developed as managers and took their teams and themselves to the pinnacle of success, by adapting and changing their style to suit the different variations of their teams.  They didn't stick to one overriding style of management, but instead they evolved. Managers must adapt to employees the same way coaches adapt to players, in order for everyone to be successful.  So, what type of coach are you?

Have a great day!

-M

Lessons From Your Dog: 7 Canine Tips To Improve Yourself

I love dogs.  I spend a lot of time around them, sometimes volunteering to walk them, babysit them, and I have a dog of my own.  Watching them, teaches me a lot about animal behavior.  Subsequently, as I was walking my dog this morning I had an epiphany.  If I could just simplify my view of things the way a dog does, I might improve the quality of my work and my life.  Dog's have this very simple way of living, and life never seems to get boring for them, or mundane.  They have feelings too and sometimes they get down, but they always seem to bounce back with their tails wagging.  If we all simplify our thoughts and our expectations maybe we can get our own tails wagging as well.  Although I am definitely not going to sniff any one's behind, and I recommend that you follow my lead.   Here are a few tips you can learn from your dog:

• Everyday Is New - Dogs greet everyday like it is brand new, because to them, it is!  I don't know if they have short term memory loss, but it seems to me that my dog gets up in the morning and there is always something new to be discovered.  We walk the same route every morning, just like we go to the same job everyday, but the difference is that she finds something new along the way.  Each day she looks for something different, and she finds it.  Maybe it's a leftover pizza someone dropped, or some cat poop, or an old piece of furniture somebody has thrown away, but she lives for those moments.  Now I'm not suggesting you search out discarded pizza boxes, or go lay on an old couch, but I would hope that you try to view things a bit differently as you trudge through your workday.  It might make the journey a bit more tolerable, and for some even enjoyable. 
• Stop And Smell The Roses - I know that this term is overused quite a bit, but it really is a great way to look at life.  We spend so much time rushing, that we really forget to enjoy the beauty that the world has to offer.  A dog does not have as much time as we do on this earth, so they take the time to enjoy every part of their short life.  My dog especially likes flowers and I don't know why but I think she might secretly be a botanist.  If I take a different route on our walk she will always seek out the flowers and sniff them for a long time.  At times, I have to pull her leash a bit to remind her we are on a walk, but she appreciates the short time she has to smell every petal along the way.  
• Greet Everyone With Enthusiasm- I've noticed that a great deal of people are terrified of dogs.  I'm not sure why but at times when I'm walking my dog I will see people veer off the path in order to avoid her.  However, this doesn't bother her in the slightest, she still wags her tail, and greets them with the same enthusiasm that she offers to people who are actually excited to see her.  You'll never know if she's in a good mood or a bad mood because she's just simply excited to meet you.  She could be having a bad day, maybe a sore foot, and even worse diarrhea, but no one could ever tell.  I took that as a good lesson for me, because at times I let my mood affect the way I greet people, and it would show.  They might say, "Something wrong?" or "You okay today?"  And I realized my mood was dampening their mood as well.  So now I follow my dog's lead and I offer a smile and enthusiasm whenever I'm greeting someone.  It works because they seem excited as well.  
• Earn Respect -I'm not talking about street cred here, but just simple respect for one another and each other's space.  When observing dogs in a park who are off leash I've noticed that some of them are scared and lash out at other dogs.  Just like people who are in a situation which is unfamiliar, I often observe people who lash out at other people just to make themselves comfortable.  Every meeting I go to where I'm meeting new people, someone almost always feels the need to talk trash about another participant.  Why?  Because they're insecure and scared just like a dog who's new to a park.  In a park, the other dog's sense this and seek to put an unruly dog in it's place, put the dog at ease, or put them out of the pack.  People are no different.  If you want to "play", you have to earn respect, otherwise you'll be just another dog on the outside watching everyone else have all the fun.  It's best to try and be part of the pack, by earning respect.  
• Practice, Practice, Practice, - My dog is mostly Pointer, but she rarely gets to utilize her canine skills because I'm not a member of the English aristocracy and we never go on fox hunts.  I didn't realize that her breed was commonly used by royals in the hunt for rabbits, birds, and foxes, and unfortunately for here there are not a lot of foxes at the beach.  However, there are a great deal of rabbits, squirrels, and birds which she regularly chases if I give her a long leash.  Although she may not be using her skills in a real hunting situation that doesn't mean she doesn't practice all the time.  Each day she will find some new animal to roust out of it's den.  She never hurts any animal but she practices all the time.  I realize that it's important for me to do this as well because if I hone my skills daily, it will make my job that much easier. I don't chase rabbits, squirrels, or birds, but I do chase down leads.  
• Be Persistent - Dogs are a lot like people.  They sulk, they get mad, they can be annoying, and they are incredibly persistent.  If they want or need something they will stare at you for minutes or even hours until they get you to do something.  It's funny because you can a dog looking at you, waiting for your reaction, or rather your commitment to help them.  The other day, my dog obviously wanted something so she came over and put her paw on my hand.  I ignored her, so then she came and put her head on my leg, but I pushed her away.  Then she came back again and put her head in my lap, but I brushed her aside.  Finally she went and got her toy and put it in my lap, and I finally got the message.  I got up from my desk, went and played with her for a while, and she was happy.  I thought "If I was as persistent as a dog, I might get a lot more accomplished."  Except, I don't know if staring at a customer for a long time, putting my hand on their hand, or putting my head on their leg is going to get me what I want.  Maybe, it's worth a try though.
• Leave A Mark - If you observe dogs for a long time, they always leave a mark wherever they have been. Basically, they pee and leave their scent.  That is a valuable lesson, especially for a business professional.  If you attend a meeting, conduct a luncheon, have a conference call, or give a presentation, always be sure to leave your mark.  People do not remember the person that just showed up, however they do remember the person that made an impression.  I'm not insinuating that you should pee after every meeting or presentation, but do something to leave a mark on the people attending so when it comes time to make a decision regarding a promotion, assignment, or a purchase, they remember you. 

I hope this helps you in whatever you do, and if you don't like dogs, I feel sorry for you, because they really are an inspiration.  Have a great day!

-M

Motivational Books- 7 Habits of Something, Something, Something

I like to read books.  Lots of books.  I read books about sales obviously, but also about service, leadership, sports, fiction, biographies, historical, some romance, and yes even Harry Potter books. Right now I'm reading "Delivering Happiness" by Tony Hsieh.  Why?  I like to read.  However, one series of books I find interesting and yet annoying at the same time...motivational books.  After reading a series of these books, I really can't take any more good vibrations. It's all blah, blah, blah, "you are a beacon of awesomeness", and more blah, blah, blah, "you can do anything you set out to do".  Positive thinking is great but delusions of grandeur are not. 

Years ago, when I first read Stephen Covey's, "7 Habits of  Highly Effective People", I immediately started practicing what was written in the book. It definitely made an impression upon me.  But as I went through the habits, I realized that a lot of the habits I was already utilizing in my own life, but I never felt highly effective. I was always successful in whatever I set out to do, but highly effective? What the hell does that even mean?  It's a very subjective statement.  And who is arrogant enough to call themselves highly effective?  I'm not.

I was going to read the book again recently but as I started to read, it made me sick to my stomach.  I literally started to feel ill.  Now maybe I had too much coffee without enough breakfast, or perhaps I ate some yogurt which was spoiled, but I believe the book made me nauseous.  It is a great book, and if you haven't read it you should, but don't believe the hype about it changing your life.  Only you can change your life, and change does not come from a book. It comes from you. 

Wow!  That was bit spiritual.  Please remember that at times a book can change things.  For example, if you are attacked my a mugger, a book is a good weapon to help fight them off.  Moreover,  if you are short in stature, and need to reach something, a book can effectively change your height, when you step on it.  However, I don't know how much it will change your life if you step on it.  It depends upon the situation.

If you've never read the book "7 Habits Of Highly Effective People", I have listed my short interpretation of the 7 Habits below, and if you have read the book and appreciate it, please don't read any further because you will most likely hate this post.  Here are my intepretations of the 7 Habits:

1. Be Proactive - The first habit is basically about taking responsibility for your own actions and for your life. This is pretty simple because all it says is "get off your butt and do something"!  Heck do anything! But just don't sit there and take your circumstances lying down.  Nothing was ever accomplished from a couch....except maybe therapy, or binge watching Netflix. 
2. Begin With The End In Mind - The second habit actually made me laugh when I was reading the book, because it's about visualization. It's about using your imagination to formulate a clear objective for your day, your week, and your life.  I use this habit on some days to visualize myself eating an In-N-Out Double-Double, and it always works on those days because I invariably have a burger...hmmm good. 
3. Put First Things First - Another simple and yet effective habit worth forming.  This one is really about prioritizing your life.  Place things which you value most first, like your kids, your family, or your dog.  All the other stuff is trivial.  If taxidermy is what you value most, then by all means focus on your dead animals and stuff them.  It's your choice.  However I wouldn't recommend sharing your love for taxidermy with other people, it might make them nervous around you at cocktail parties.
4. Think Win-Win - The 4th habit always makes me want to puke now when I read it.  It has been quoted for years since it was first written, it has been used as the title to a movie, and was quoted thousands of times on the television show "The Office" and in conference rooms for the last 15 years. The term is supposed to describe a situation that is mutually beneficial to both parties, but people use the term incorrectly all the time. Often times they use it to describe something twice as beneficial to themselves rather than mutually beneficial to two parties.  For example, "If we hire Suzanne, who is eager to please, we can consolidate two jobs and then let some one else go.  She'll have to do the work of two people, but it's a win-win for us. We'll increase our productivity and reduce our costs." I'm not sure doubling someone's work load is a win-win for them.  More like a lose-lose.
5. Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood - What the heck does this mean anyway? I know it's meant to be deep and meaning and inciteful.  Which is why I barely understand it.It is very deep. However it's worded in a complicated way so as to confuse me and everyone else. It's insanely simple...LISTEN.  Don't be thinking about what you are going to say next, don't think about when is the time to best get my point across, don't ponder the meaning of life when someone is speaking to you.  Actually listen and you might learn something.
6. Synergize - Again another term that drives me insane.  It is so over used and more often used incorrectly. Corporations have twisted this idea into some weird model where everyone should be working together, in unison, with no differences, and without thinking.  Like robots.  "If we synchronize our energy people will produce better results." Yet, the entire point of the this habit is to embrace individual differences, in order to work together to arrive at a better outcome.  It is using all the talents of the group working together to improve results.  Not a group of individuals with the same talents working towards a collective goal.  That's communism.
7. Sharpen The Saw - A habit which is often over looked but I think is extremely important. Too often we focus on our work related activities and not enough on personal activities.  When you sharpen the saw, it really means your sharpening yourself.  You should make an effort to enrich your life every day in either a physical, spiritual, social, or mental way.  Typically, people interpret this habit as working on their business acumen such as learning how to close a sale, negotiate a deal, or taking a class in the Art of War by Sun Tzu.  I always find it amusing that business people study warfare tactics to "help" in their careers when we all know that most of us wouldn't even make it out of a bunker without soiling ourselves.  It's easy to act tough when you don't have bullets whizzing by your head.   Study poetry, not war and you'll go a lot farther in the business world.  As my grandmother once told me, "You get further with sugar than you do with salt."

The important thing to remember here is that these habits still apply and are relevant even today, but keep in mind they are subject to your own interpretation.  Never follow blindly the path someone else has laid out for you. 

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

Have a great day!

-M