[February 11, 2016] In the style of the American football coach George Allen, turning losers into winners is something truly remarkable to witness. Some leaders have it, others don’t. Here at theLeaderMaker.com, it is a key principle that leadership is learned and therefore all of us have the ability to take our teams across the finish line and win.
Coach Allen adopted the “future is now” theme well into his 12-season career as a coach and was adopted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.1 He is most known as a leader who turned losing football franchises into winners (Los Angeles and Washington). This is what truly great leaders do. Like General Patton of World War II fame who turned his Army Divisions into effective fighting forces, leaders make things happen without excuses.
Credited for full control over the team, he popularized the trend of 16-hour workdays, security to keep spies away from the team, playing veterans over rookies, and use of special teams. Ultimately however it was his dedication to the sport of football, hard work, and a clear vision of what he wanted that made him successful at turning losers into winners.
Leaders who turn their teams into winners are not always popular. They’re changing the status quo and people like where they are even if they are not living up to their potential. We’ve all seen leaders who are more willing to “go along with the flow” rather than make the necessary changes for the better. Coach Allen was given plenty of authority to make those changes and one of the owners remarked that even with unlimited authority he exceeded it.
These are special leaders. They have a very dedicated and loyal staff that enables their leader’s strengths beyond what could normally be done. That same staff helps improve any leadership weaknesses. An experienced, tough, no-nonsense staff leader is key to the staff’s success much like Patton’s Chief of Staff who drove them to meet Patton’s tough will.
Coach Allen was an early innovator of football tactics and a motivator of men. Like the conquering generals of ancient history, Allen was the best at winning with mediocre teams and limited resources. But he was a winner that cannot be denied.
[Don’t forget to “Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]
—————————