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Monday, October 10, 2022

Building a Strong Team, Lessons from the Bush White House

*Adapted from MasterClass, Authentic Leadership, former President George Bush... "Inspire a culture of teamwork." Be open to opinions from multiple sides. Even if we don't agree, there's value in hearing alternatives. Be willing to learn from anyone. Assess the quality of information from the lessons not only the source. 

Organizations are more than the Chief Executive. Nobody has all the answers or does all the work.

"The Chief Executive is the tone setter." Stay on message. 

"There is general agreement with the philosophy." Don't hire people for the team who are looking for your job.

"Expect diverse opinions." 

"Look for cultural diversity." As an OG coaching young girls, when I could, I looked for a young woman assistant whom the players could relate to. 

"Is the process thorough? Have you consulted other people?" Some coaches insist on being the ringmaster. That usually means it's a circus. 

"Address your shortcomings." Unrequired work applies to coaches, too. 

"You can never have enough help. Shore up weaknesses...enhance strengths." Sounds suspiciously like Belichick channeling Sun Tzu. 

"Serve something greater than self." Serve the sport, the players, the community. 

"We were looking for team players...fit into a culture of serving the country." Washington is full of self-serving people; your town probably is, too. 

"Welcome other viewpoints"...if not, the culture is based upon the President alone. 

"A certain loyalty is required..." This reminded me of Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals." Lincoln's cabinet held rivals committed to preserving the Union. 

"Give feedback...as a learning experience...a good leader asks how can we grow together? Humility begins with understanding "you're not it."" Coaches help players grow, and players help us grow, too. 

"Be thoughtful and kind...not a bully." Don't complain about a culture of bullying and power games and then reproduce it.

"Don't let power and position cloud your judgment." 

Summary: 

  • Inspire a culture of teamwork.
  • Stay on message.
  • Unrequired work matters for coaches, too.
  • Find team players.
  • Don't be a bully.
Lagniappe. When you're learning, it's okay to see what you're doing.

Lagniappe 2. Match your work to your dreams.  

Lagniappe 3. SLOB Zipper Iverson Boomerang  

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