The components of Building a Championship Team grounded in the values of pride, respect and courage. Important it to live those values not just speak to them.
Leadership
The ability to get the best out of the people around you
Ability to provide a strong cohesive vision that gives the staff direction to follow
Need to understand cultural differences
The skills of leadership
Observation skills – Important as a head coach/manager to step back and see the big picture. Not necessary to be involved in every drill.
Ability to learn and adapt quickly
Ability to plan and implement the plan all the while recognizing that no plan is perfect hence the necessity of staying flexible
High work ethic
Passion for details
Management
Staff – Get the right staff. No yes-men. Must have difference opinions to create a strong staff.
Players – Looking for consistency. Good today, not yesterday!
Creating the right environment – Values = Behaviors
Know when to let staff go – When to cut the cord. He emphasized this is not easy but sometime necessary.
Knowing Your Strength
Know your key competitive edge and work constantly to improve it.
Know where the gaps are – do thorough and ongoing gap analysis of where are you versus where you need to be and act on closing those gaps immediately.
Know your opposition – Understand their psyche
Plan and prioritize base on your strength. Work on what you are good at. The strength will pull up the weaknesses.
Develop a Culture of Discipline
Rules – Very few, very clear and easy to be accountable for
Meetings – No longer than 15 minutes
Communication – Clear and concise
Evaluation – Clear criteria, no shades of grey
Selection – not easy but you do not always select best players but select the best team.
Create a Learning Environment
Learn from other sports – Look far afield
Learn from other coaches
Television – Watch interviews with coaches post match
Internet – this is obvious
Books – Read everything
Have courage of conviction – Always look for a better way than the way you are doing it and be willing to change.
Thanks to Eddie Jones for these ideas. I know many will read this and think we do that or there is nothing earthshaking here. Think again, these is just words on paper, but it takes a 24/7 commitment, a commitment few are willing to give. It is that commitment that truly separates the good form the great.