Adapt to Win: Part III - Adaptive Leadership
In Parts I and II of Adapt to Win, we have explored how Nick Saban and Bill Belichick have translated the ability to adapt their strategies to changes in the game and the competitive landscape, and their team design to fit their strategy, to ensure they stay ahead of the competition. In this final installment, we will focus on the way they adapt their leadership style to maximize their teams' productivity, resilience and consistency in the midst of constant change, and the lessons that they offer to business leaders.
One Size Does Not Fit All
At their core, football coaches are teachers. Their expertise is in translating complex game plans into minute details - which foot to move first, what angle to take, which opposing player you should be watching and for what movements. And while newer players benefit from a more prescriptive approach, experienced veterans can be demotivated by micromanagement.
Throughout his historic run of success in New England, Bill Belichick excelled at identifying experienced veterans at the end of their careers that were starving for a chance at a championship, and were willing to join the Patriots for below market value for a chance to win a Super Bowl.
Belichick was able to get the most of these players by recognizing their experience and competence, and leading them differently - giving them only the coaching they wanted and needed to be successful in his system.
By doing so, he encouraged them to take on leadership roles within the team, lending veteran experience and wisdom to the locker room. Despite his meticulous approach to detail, Belichick knew when to adjust his approach to get the most from his roster.
Business leaders often face the same challenges - leading a team with diverse backgrounds, personalities, experience, and competency levels. That diversity can be a strength if managed correctly, but one size does not fit all. It is important to drive focus to one standard, one vision, one "process" - but leaders would do well to adapt their approach to the unique needs of each member of their team.
Rooting Out Complacency and Building Confidence
Coaches often remark that "coaching is always easier after a loss" - that the complacency that can often follow success, is a powerful enemy to greatness.
Saban often referred to that success as "rat poison" that would breed a sickness of complacency. Conversely, after difficult losses, players can lose confidence, and their performance can suffer as a result.
Great coaches are always in tune with their team, and adapt their coaching style to their emotional needs. By doing so, coaches ensure that they are able to help their players be at their absolute best when it is time to play.
Business leaders that invest the energy to employ emotional intelligence will reap similar benefits. Businesses that experience long periods of success can also get complacent - spending time worrying about perks like the gourmet snacks in the breakroom, or nap chambers, instead of the changing needs of their customers and the new competitors that are flooding in to serve those needs. In these cases, leaders need to continue to raise standards, and keep customers as the central focus to ensure that the organization stays hungry to continue growing.
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But with highs there are always lows. And in difficult economic conditions, employees can develop a type of PTSD with consecutive periods of underperformance. Leaders often miss the fact that poor results are not always caused by poor effort. Great leaders realize when their team needs recognition and support, and act as a buffer, without having to lower standards. Communication is key here - active listening and emotional intelligence can ensure that you are applying the right approach to any situation. Again, keeping a clear fix on the customer and the mission can help people focus on the process, and "let the scoreboard take care of itself".
Relentless learning
Adaptive leaders are certain that there are issues lurking around the corner, and are relentless in seeking them out. Bill Belichick is famous for engaging in deep discussions with assistant coaches and experienced players. Bordering on an interrogation, he is known to ask questions until he gets a new insight to leverage. Most humans are truly only looking for validation of their pre-conceived notions, and inquiries often stop when they get the answer they are looking for.
Adaptive business leaders can take inspiration from Belichick and invest the time with their people and their customers, employing relentless curiosity. Again, not looking for validation, but truly looking for insights.
But it requires a mindset shift - that you are certain that there is something that everyone knows that you do not, and that you will keep asking until you find it.
It is easier said than done. As humans we gravitate to like-minded people, and the more successful we get, the less we tend to seek outside counsel. So, listen to Saban, and don't "eat the rat poison". Seek out diverse perspectives, both within your team and outside as well, and continuously adapt your perspectives to what you learn.
Summary
By integrating these adaptive leadership strategies, business leaders can forge a path marked by continuous learning, strategic agility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Inspired by the legendary adaptability of Saban and Belichick, leaders are equipped to navigate the ever-evolving challenges of the business world, driving their organizations toward unparalleled success.
I hope you have been as inspired by the legacies of these GOATs as I have. If you can't find something in their stories to incorporate into your leadership system, perhaps you are simply not a "student of the game".
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