A Lesson in Leadership

I was reading a VC’s blog recently and I found it very interesting.  Basic stuff here and while it is a Football analogy, it applies to everything, especially the companies most of us work for.

A recent NY Times article featured Rex Ryan, rookie coach of the NY Jets-

“In Ryan’s first season as coach, he changed the Jets’ second-class existence through the sheer force of his bold and brash personality. He spoke loudly and often about the talent that surrounded him, until the players believed every word he said.”

and

“Ryan turned one of the N.F.L.’s most clandestine operations in into an open book. The Jets collapsed at the end of 2008 in part because of the tense atmosphere. Ryan changed that, changed a culture, changed the way people felt about coming to work.”

Companies are reflections of the people who lead them.  This also goes for football teams.  If you remember the Jets of last season, they do not compare to Jets I’ve watched in the playoffs.  The difference in the team is so visible. They play with a brash and bold style this year that was not on display with the previous leadership.

Great CEO’s inspire people to work with a bounce in their step and desire to do great work.   This is largely about people skills.  We all know people who have the special touch with people.  They make people laugh, smile, and feel good.  Those people make great CEO’s, leaders, and football coaches.

Great leaders need to have a plan, you need to be close to the product, you need to know where to lead people.  Here's another couple quotes from the Times article-

“Instead of operating from a tower like a dictator, Ryan walks the hallways, massaging egos, cooking up defensive plans.”

and

"Beneath it all, he’s super, super intelligent, like the guy in the movie ‘A Beautiful Mind.’ The things that come out of his mouth are not being shot from the hip. There’s a plan behind all of it.”

So there you have it. The recipe for a great leader is:

1) Knows how to connect to the team and make them feel good about their work

2) Someone who walks the halls and works on the product with the team

3) Has the intellect to make the right decisions

4) Has a plan

The Jet's lost yesterday but Rex Ryan has impressed in his rookie season.  He’s turned a good team to a great team with superb Leadership.