Tough Coaches Rule!

Tough coaches are hiring and letting go—that’s what the NFL teams are doing with free agent players–in fast-forward mode.  We, here in the real world, can’t do it as quickly with as much money at stake.  But, there are parallels and lessons that are applicable and valuable.  Here’s one of them.

When I was getting a Masters Degree in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, I specialized in Early Childhood.  I got addicted to seeing the light bulb go on in kids’ eyes when they “broke the code.” Example:  they realized the letter “p” sounded like “puh” and stood for “poop,” and they could actually READ it!  Wow—what a rush for me—and them.

Anyhoo, the parallel to the NFL hiring frenzy is this:  there were Certain Teachers who could handle the “troublemakers” better than others.  I was not one of them. (I liked to start every morning with my 4, 5, and 6-year olds by dancing on the tabletops to the music of Otis Redding and James Brown.  But, never mind. . .)  In the world of the NFL, Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, is one of those teachers, er, coaches, who can handle the players who have a rep as  troublemakers, and turn them around to be productive team players.  He did this with Randy Moss, albeit for a limited time period, and many believe he can do it again with Albert Hainsworth, whom he just acquired from the Washington Redskins.

Now, remember, some of us first became aware of dear Albert several seasons ago, when he stomped on a player’s FACE with his cleats, when the player was prone on the GROUND.  I didn’t like him then (that was NOT necessary roughness, and he was called on it and punished) and I don’t like him now.  But, remember, the Pats are one of the 4 teams I listed in my book as the teams I HATE, so it’s fitting now that he’s a Pat.  My feeling aside, sports pundits are predicting the addition of this player makes this team a Super Bowl WINNER, not just contender.  And it’s because tough coaches rule.

Belichick and others can “wrangle” tough players and make them part of the team.  Now, if we could only do that with our employees who are out for themselves first, and are not “team players.”  Stay tuned—I’m going to analyze those tough coaches and see what they do, and write it in language we can understand and apply.