P.T.A. means disciplined PEOPLE, THOUGHT, and ACTION. Breakdowns at any process level interrupt organizational potential. That requires hard decisions.
Transformative leadership combines PROFESSIONAL WILL and PERSONAL HUMILITY
With the departure of Theo Epstein to the Chicago Cubs in October 2011, the Red Sox made a series of changes creating dramatic results. Without assigning blame, the organization went last-first-last in 2012-2014 and remain in last in the American League East, leading to a bloodless coup in the front office and the installation of new direction in Baseball Operations. Whether they can cut their losses on the disastrous Hanley Ramirez signing and 'aceless' pitching staff remains to be seen. Many organizations struggle to make tough choices (money, power, ego) and prefer 'attribution bias' to accountability.
Become a Hedgehog
The best organizations focus on central themes, to excel within their area of expertise. Alabama football has an unequalled recruiting machine. Syracuse University basketball lives and dies with the 2-3 zone. The San Antonio Spurs rely on exceptional ball movement to create high quality shots. Papa John's preaches "Better ingredients, better pizza."
Culture of Discipline
Successful organizations consistently do the right thing (get in the fight, win this possession) with specifics (ball pressure, good shots, rebounding) and stop doing the wrong thing (limit turnovers, stop bad fouls, exorcise selfishness).
Technology Accelerators
Technology doesn't have to be expensive. Newspapers and duct tape build jump boxes. Water in plastic milk bottles replace cones. Tracking key statistical metrics (basketball analytics) has become a cottage industry. Being demanding regarding even a few items (transition points allowed, free throw percentage, shooting percentage, turnovers) can dramatically improve a team performance. You can track stats just as well with pencil and paper as with a laptop.
