I've been thinking about the whirlwind of positive leadership changes in our university and football program recently. It got me thinking about a few things:
a) From a leadership perspective, our current lineup of leaders is beyond my wildest dreams
b) I can't think of a single weak link, from President Chiang, to our position coaches. Think about it: Neuhisel is coaching our QB's!! Rockstars and gamechangers at every single level. Coach Braun's servant leader style fits perfectly and he has some Norman Schwarzkopf tendencies.
c) All of them are bold in making out-of-the box choices, from the standing-only student section to our crazy offensive playbook, to the way the OC roles/responsibilities were structured in order to let Chip focus on doing what he loves doing. (you've heard of plays fitting players: this is structure fitting coaches)
d) This is the stuff positive HBR leadership case studies are made of. The New Zealand (Rugby) All Blacks and their venue Eden Park have at varying points marketed leadership training and workshops to corporate clients there. This should not be the priority, and this is not the time. But after a B1G championship or two and a Natty, this could be a revenue and sales move. (note, NZ coaches don't do any actual training for execs: it is just a branding and revenue thing at an iconic venue that NZ execs revere.) I have also seen F1 leveraged this way, at a former employer that paid a fortune for it.
e) I've had the rare privilege of working in some highly functional teams in the corporate world, in a company with great culture and a long bench of excellent leaders. Over the years I've also realised this was the exception, not the norm.
We are in a rare, rare spot in terms of leadership. On one hand, it is sensible to wait and see. On the other, I've never seen leadership this good fail to do great things. They are inclined toward bold/smart choices which will work to our advantage in a changing landscape.
Can anyone here name a university and football program leadership lineup that you would trade for ours? Any that are even close?
a) From a leadership perspective, our current lineup of leaders is beyond my wildest dreams
b) I can't think of a single weak link, from President Chiang, to our position coaches. Think about it: Neuhisel is coaching our QB's!! Rockstars and gamechangers at every single level. Coach Braun's servant leader style fits perfectly and he has some Norman Schwarzkopf tendencies.
c) All of them are bold in making out-of-the box choices, from the standing-only student section to our crazy offensive playbook, to the way the OC roles/responsibilities were structured in order to let Chip focus on doing what he loves doing. (you've heard of plays fitting players: this is structure fitting coaches)
d) This is the stuff positive HBR leadership case studies are made of. The New Zealand (Rugby) All Blacks and their venue Eden Park have at varying points marketed leadership training and workshops to corporate clients there. This should not be the priority, and this is not the time. But after a B1G championship or two and a Natty, this could be a revenue and sales move. (note, NZ coaches don't do any actual training for execs: it is just a branding and revenue thing at an iconic venue that NZ execs revere.) I have also seen F1 leveraged this way, at a former employer that paid a fortune for it.
e) I've had the rare privilege of working in some highly functional teams in the corporate world, in a company with great culture and a long bench of excellent leaders. Over the years I've also realised this was the exception, not the norm.
We are in a rare, rare spot in terms of leadership. On one hand, it is sensible to wait and see. On the other, I've never seen leadership this good fail to do great things. They are inclined toward bold/smart choices which will work to our advantage in a changing landscape.
Can anyone here name a university and football program leadership lineup that you would trade for ours? Any that are even close?
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