Patriots Dynasty/Super Bowl Leadership Lessons

During the past four NFL seasons, Bill Belichick has led the New England Patriots to an amazing three Super Bowl victories and a remarkable overall win-loss record of 57-16. His career postseason coaching record of 10-1 is the best in league history. Yet just 10 years ago, he was fired as coach of the Cleveland Browns and labeled Cleveland’s “worst coach ever” by the press. What lessons does Belichick’s remarkable turnaround offer for us all? (From Michael Felger of the Boston Herald.)

• Develop people skills. True or not, the perception of Belichick in Cleveland was that of a distant, humorless taskmaster. His resurgence is proof that people skills can be honed. The Patriot’s coach still isn’t the most charismatic guy around, but he gets along very well with his boss (team owner Robert Kraft).
• Foster a real TEAM. One of Belichick’s greatest strengths has been his ability to push the team concept. Big-ego players command too much of a team’s budget and often have star-sized attitudes. Belichick targets players whom he feels will fit his system.
• Embrace change. Most teams do whatever they can to hang onto their most recognizable players. Not the Patriots. Of New England’s 22 offensive and defensive starters in the 2002 Super Bowl, only six were still starting for the team in the 2005 Super Bowl.
• Expect the unexpected. While (unavoidable) injuries ruin some teams’ seasons, the Patriots have managed to keep right on winning – because Belichick treats backup players as an integral part of his plan… not as an afterthought.
• Don’t rely on a single strategy. Many football teams strive to have an identity, a single style that they can rely on each week regardless of the situation. Bill Belichick devises a unique game plan each week. That’s why he covets versatility in his players.
• Look for intelligence and character. The intelligence of the Patriot players is a big reason why Belichick can implement his very complicated strategies. Their character is a big part of the reason the team hasn’t been brought down by ego or complacency despite all of its success.
• Follow rules. Belichick has a rule that a player doesn’t start on Sunday if he missed practice time during the week. He believes that if you bend the rules in one situation, you’re likely to do it again and, eventually, the structure suffers. (This includes Richard Seymour, one of the Patriots’ best players, who missed practice to attend his grandfather’s funeral.)
• Focus on what you can control. Belichick doesn’t allow players to moan about the thin air when they play in Denver or the heat when they’re in Miami. There’s nothing they can do to change the conditions, so why waste energy worrying about them?