From the Gridiron to the Boardroom: 8 Leadership Lessons from Ivy League Champions

It's a crisp August morning at 6am, and I'm standing with the Yale football coaches in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Dressed in all black with my colleagues Ted Delicath , Keith Pellegrini , Sarah Vollaro , Olivia Monroe , Sterling Strother , and Sebastian Little we're discussing how the leaders of the past, now long dead, still have something to teach us in the way we coach and the way we lead.

This leadership program happens every pre-season, part of an ongoing partnership between McChrystal Group and Yale Athletics, dating back to 2015. As a former D3 soccer player, I’m electrified by the palpable commitment in the air – a dedication not just to the game, but to the heart of their mission: the student-athletes.

This also isn't just any football team; it's a group that has clinched the Ivy League Championship four times since 2017, including their back-to-back championship this fall. They've done so with coaches leaving for bigger schools and roles, with senior classes graduating, and with other Ivy League schools bringing their best every time they play Yale. And they've still won.

Such an extraordinary streak of success doesn't just happen. It's crafted, nurtured, and led with exceptional skill – a testament to the profound leadership of these coaches.

My experience on the soccer field taught me the value of teamwork and leadership, but witnessing the transformational impact these coaches had on their players offered a new depth of understanding. These insights transcend the world of sports, offering powerful lessons for leaders in any field, especially for businesses looking to up their game.

Here are eight game-changing insights from the gridiron that can revolutionize your approach to leadership in the boardroom and beyond.

1. Invest in Leadership

In sports, especially in teams like football, the role of the coach is paramount. Their vision, guidance, and management of the team dynamics can make the difference between winning championships or facing season after season of defeat.

But what makes success endure, as it has for Coach Reno and Yale, is the willingness to invest serious time and focus into building out the leadership capacity of the entire team. They've been doing this program since 2015. That matters. Building up that capacity of leadership means that when coaches leave for roles elsewhere or key players graduate, the culture demands that the next person steps up.

In the same vein, companies thrive or falter based on the strength of their leadership. As a leader, continuous learning and personal development aren’t just nice-to-haves—they're essentials.

And yet is often so easy to cut leadership development from the budget.

The exponential gain of year after year improvements, and the culture of leading and learning that's built in the meantime, delivers outsize performance. Whether it’s through formal training programs, workshops, or simply a commitment to lifelong learning, investing in leadership skills (with time and money, not just talk) is a critical aspect of both sports and business.

2. Ideas Matter Only in Execution

A playbook in football, filled with innovative strategies, remains merely a collection of ideas unless executed flawlessly on the field.

Similarly, in business, many great ideas and concepts of leadership never see the light of day because they’re not acted upon. It is easy for any leadership retreat for Ivy League Coaches, or for C-Suite executives, to be just that — a fun offsite, and nothing more.

It is the translation of these ideas into actionable plans, and subsequently into tangible results, that distinguishes successful teams and businesses from the rest. Only by identifying owners and allocating time for execution do these ideas become real, and it is amazing how often this step goes missing.

For Yale, this meant executing the roles of the offensive and defensive coordinators, the position coaches, recruiting, weightlifting, and everyone else associated with the team. It also meant translating to each one of those roles what Coach Reno meant by creating a 'family' among the team. It's not enough to just say that, it takes repeated efforts to communicate, translate into action, and firmly embed it.

The idea of leadership, by itself, is worthless.

Only when everyone acts differently as a result does it matter.

3. Lead by Example

Leaders who embody the values and work ethic they preach are more likely to cultivate a culture where those ideals are lived out daily by everyone.

In football, coaches set up the team for success, but on the field on game day, it’s often the captain who sets the tone for the team. Their work ethic, attitude, and commitment inspire the rest of the team to elevate their game. Similarly, in a corporate setting, employees often look to their leaders to set the benchmark.

Whenever I was a captain for my soccer team, I made a point not to ask anyone to do something that I wasn't willing to do myself. While freshmen often end up with all the mundane tasks (carrying the water, moving the goals, gathering the gear after practice), it's a lot harder for them to say no to doing that when I'm right there next to them helping out. It's hard for anyone to turn down more hours in the gym or showing up to kick arounds during the offseason when I'm spending more time working out or when I'm at every single kick around.

That was not always fun for me, but it is what the privilege of that position required to get the best out of our team.

By setting an unimpeachable example, you raise the floor and remove space for excuses.

4. Leadership is a Duty and a Privilege

In the realm of sports, a coach's authority over their team is more than just a position—it's a trust. They have the power to demand the utmost effort from their players, to push them to their limits, and to mold them into champions.

Yet, with that immense privilege comes a profound responsibility. It's not just about winning games; it's about the well-being and future of each individual under their charge.

Coaches, just like leaders in the corporate sphere, have a duty to ensure that the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of their teams aren't taken for granted or squandered. They must act in the best interests of their team, placing their well-being and future prospects at the forefront.

This doesn't mean they need to be flawless; mistakes are part of growth. However, it does mean that every decision, every strategy, and every interaction should resonate with care, respect, and an unwavering commitment to those they lead.

Your position as a coach gives you the right to ask for more from your players.

Your position as a boss gives you the right to ask for more from your team.

Your position as a leader also comes with a responsibility to use that power with the best interests of your team and your larger mission in mind.

Always.

5. Give Others the Spotlight

In the high-stakes arena of football, career trajectories often resemble a ladder, where coaches progress from positional mentors to coordinators and, ultimately, to head coaches. This journey, fraught with competition and unpredictability, can easily be driven by ego and self-centered ambitions. Yet, at programs like Yale, there's a radical shift in perspective that transcends the typical competitive ethos.

They've cultivated a "we shine when we all shine" and "next man up" mindset, emphasizing collective growth over isolated achievements.

This approach isn't just about fostering a healthy team environment; it's a deliberate strategy that understands the power of internal development. Coaches are empowered to excel in their current roles while simultaneously being prepped for bigger responsibilities down the line. This forward-looking approach ensures that as coaches grow and transition into better positions, they leave behind a legacy of strong, well-prepared successors. This cycle of growth and succession ensures that the team is never left in a lurch and always has competent leadership at the helm.

There's a profound lesson here for the corporate world, especially for those in the C-Suite. Just as in football, the strength of a company often lies in its ability to develop talent from within, promoting a culture where the growth of one elevates the entire team. When leaders focus on nurturing their team members, ensuring they’re prepared for larger roles and responsibilities, it doesn't just benefit the individual; it strengthens the entire organization. The vision isn't limited to present success; it's about future-proofing the team, ensuring continuity, passion, and dynamism in leadership. This selfless commitment to the growth of others, devoid of ego, is the hallmark of truly transformative leadership.

6. Overcommunicate

In the intricate world of football, managing diverse components—be it offense, defense, special teams, or the myriad of individual roles like quarterbacks, wide receivers, linemen—not to mention the logistics of recruiting, medical considerations, and academic performance, the spectrum is vast. This multifaceted ecosystem is fertile ground for confusion, misalignment, and communication breakdowns. Likewise, in business, clarity is crucial. Ensuring everyone understands their tasks, the company's goals, and the bigger picture can be the difference between coordinated success and chaotic failure. Hence, the importance of driving clarity cannot be overstated.

Achieving this clarity is twofold: It's about establishing robust systems and instilling the right behaviors.

First, the systems. Consider the precision and coordination needed to execute a single play during a game, and then amplify it to an entire season. It's a mammoth task that requires impeccable synchronization. Adopting practices like daily standups, consistent meeting agendas, and deliberate cross-functional touchpoints ensures that every team member, from the rookies to the seasoned pros, is aligned in their roles and responsibilities. These systems act as the team's navigational beacons, ensuring that even amidst the chaos of a season, everyone knows their role and how it fits into the bigger picture.

Then come the behaviors. The 'why' behind decisions isn't just management jargon; it’s the rationale that provides context, enabling team members to fully understand and buy into a particular strategy or action. Practicing active listening, where every voice is valued, not only fosters a sense of belonging but also surfaces invaluable insights that might have otherwise been missed. Furthermore, delineating the 'so what' ensures everyone grasps the implications of their actions, tying individual tasks to the team's overarching goals.

Overcommunication, in this context, isn't about inundating with information, but about ensuring clarity, alignment, and a unified march towards a common goal.

7. Recruit Wisely

Football teams are meticulous in their recruitment, seeking not just talent but also players and coaches who fit their culture and philosophy.

Similarly, companies must be discerning in their hiring processes, seeking individuals who not only possess the required skills but also align with the company's values and mission.

It is much easier to work with people already aligned with the culture than it is to ask someone to act in a way fundamentally opposed to who they are in the world.

Choose your people wisely.

8. Compete Only Against Your Own High Standards

The true essence of dominance in any field isn't about defeating others; it's about continually challenging and surpassing one's own previous bests. Legends like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan epitomize this mindset. Their feats on the basketball court were born not from a simple desire to outperform opponents but from an insatiable hunger to outdo their own past performances. Their benchmarks were not set by the standards of their peers but by the boundaries of their previous achievements.

Take Kobe Bryant, for instance. While the basketball world was used to players training once or twice a day, starting around noon, Kobe redefined dedication. He started his training at the crack of dawn, around 4 or 5 am. Instead of the usual one or two sessions, he committed to four intense training periods daily. This unyielding discipline meant that over the years, Kobe effectively doubled, even tripled, the amount of time he dedicated to honing his craft compared to other players. Such commitment didn't just result in unparalleled skills but also built an unshakeable confidence that came from knowing he had put in the work.

In the world of business and leadership, this principle remains just as vital. The pursuit of personal excellence, of constantly setting the bar higher for oneself, can lead to unmatched expertise, innovation, and resilience. It's about understanding that true dominance comes not from external validation but from the relentless pursuit of one's own potential.

It is about pursuing what author Simon Sinek calls "the infinite game" in that while money is a means, the end is the eternal pursuit of our best, which is only something we can define for ourselves.

The Future of Leadership Across Arenas

Yale just used these principles to win back-to-back Ivy League Championships. It's Coach Reno's fourth championship in six years. That type of record deserves attention.

"I'm really proud of the team. It wasn't an easy season. We had to fight through so many things, and when we finally got a foothold, it was like we exploded. We had so many guys contribute. There are names you don't even know that made amazing contributions to this team whether it was on the scout team on a Tuesday or blocking a kick or running down on a kickoff. That's who we were. This team became elite because they were all one." - Coach Reno

Coach Reno's approach to leadership, emphasizing teamwork, perseverance, and collective effort, offers valuable insights for business leaders. Just as his team achieved greatness through unity and relentless determination, businesses can also reach new heights by fostering a culture of collaboration and resilience.

Leadership, at its core, is universal. In both the world of sports and business, these principles stand as pillars of success. Embracing them can be the key to transforming good teams into great ones and great businesses into industry leaders.

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