Pat's Leadership Blog | Coach Pat Sullivan

01 Aug

Lessons from Frank Thomas: Know the Zone, Keep it Simple

Frank Thomas was inducted last weekend into the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with two others with fairly strong Chicago-area ties: Greg Maddux (Cubs) and Tony LaRussa (White Sox).

Having been a former college and semi-pro pitcher, when Frank Thomas came to the White Sox, I thought he really looked like an excellent hitter. So, I asked the best hitter I ever pitched against, Ed Spiezio, what he thought. Ed played ten years in the Major Leagues with the Cardinals, Padres, and Sox.

Ed said there were two things that he felt would lead to a great career for Thomas – he really knew the strike zone and he had excellent discipline at the plate. He rarely swung at pitches out of the strike zone.

Just like Thomas knew the strike zone, leaders have to know their business. I always admired our local 7UP Company. When college graduates came to work there, they all began their careers on the truck. They learned the beverage business from the ground floor.

Joey Meyer, the former DePaul basketball coach, once made an interesting observation on our two coaching careers. He said I was fortunate to begin coaching at the high school freshman level, whereas he began at the college level. His point was I had to learn the game from the most elementary level. I had to learn the simplicity of the game, the fundamentals of the game.

Thomas had discipline at the plate. Leaders cannot jump at all the new ideas. They have to have the patience and discipline to judge what fits their business and what does not.

Knowing the strike zone and having discipline at the plate led Frank Thomas to a Hall of Fame career. Keeping things simple and having the discipline to stay with that simplicity can make for a Hall of Fame career.

28 Jul

Greg Maddux and Leaders

After winning four Cy Young Awards and 355 baseball games – mostly with the Braves and Cubs – Greg Maddux was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Two things were told to me about Maddux from former major league players that can be insightful for leaders.

Steve Parris, a University of St. Francis athlete who pitched approximately six years in the majors, once spoke to our basketball players on concentration. Who better to talk to any sport team on concentration than a Big League pitcher? After his presentation, our players had the opportunity to ask general questions about baseball. One of our players asked Steve who Big League hitters hated to bat against the most. We all thought it would be one of the great fastball pitchers – Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, etc.

Steve said it was Maddux because one thing hitters at the Big League level don’t want is to look bad at the plate. If you strike out on a 95-mile an hour fastball, everyone understands. Maddux didn’t throw 95; he just made you look bad.

Mark Grant, a Joliet Catholic High School athlete and the current voice of the San Diego Padres, was on the pitching staff at Atlanta with Maddux. He told us when the scouts would present the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing hitters prior to a series, all the pitchers listened. But Maddux not only listened; he took copious notes on all the hitters.

Another former teammate, Kevin Millwood once said that he had never known a player to be so meticulous about preparation and knowledge of batters. “’I think when he retires he could surely be a pitching coach,”’ he said. “’But he has made such a study of batters that he’d make a great hitting coach.” (Source)

Two thoughts leaders may consider. None of us, like Major League hitters, want to look bad. I think the only way to prevent looking bad is to do what Maddux did with the scouts – get prepared. Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

23 Jul

Systems

Developing a system of work may be something for leaders to think about. And keeping that system simple may be the key to execution.

Earlier this month, the German soccer team beat Brazil in the semi-finals of the World Cup by the unprecedented score of 7 – 1. According to former German soccer players, their country developed a national academy of soccer whose purpose was to take the best young players in the country and teach them a particular system of play. They would all develop as players within that system. The result was Germany advancing to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time and then winning it all with a 1-0 win over Argentina earlier this month.

I once read that 90% of new restaurants fail, but 90% of franchise restaurants make it. The writer of that statement said he thought that the McDonalds’ of the world were successful because they had a system.

Equally as important as the system, per se, was that it was simple. They could bring in high school age teenagers and quickly and competently teach them their system because of its simplicity.

John Paxson was, I believe, cut from three NBA teams prior to coming to the Chicago Bulls. But when he came to the Bulls, he was a perfect fit for the Triangle Offense. The offense allowed Jordan and Pippen to penetrate and kick and Paxson was the perfect shooter to complement their driving. Steve Kerr succeeded Paxson at the shooting guard position and this offensive system enabled the Bulls to win six championships in the Jordan era.

When I served as the assistant to the president at St. Francis, our president, Dr. Jack Orr, organized all departments with the system of management by objectives. Everyone in the administration had the people who reported to them put their goals for the year with a timeline to accomplish them in writing. It was a very simple system that made all of us responsible and accountable.

We shared the goals with everyone in the department and verbally reported on our successes/failures twice a year. By operating this way, we were all on the same page, knew where our department was going, and could encourage and help each other accomplish our goals.

Should leaders look to develop a system of organization for their work place? And if so, should that system not be simple? Simple systems do lead to quality execution.

09 Jul

7 – 1

The above was the score of the German – Brazil match in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup. And, to make matters worse, in a country where soccer is a religion, the Brazilians suffered the humiliation at home.

It wasn’t a loss; it was a total embarrassment in front of thousands of rabid fans and millions of television viewers.

The media can sometimes be nasty and add salt to the wound. An ESPN sportscaster, while his station showed hundreds of Brazilians on a beach after the game, sarcastically said each of those people represent a German goal.

This is what sport and leadership can sometimes be about.

One minute the Brazil players are heroes in their country because they are members of The National Team in one of the greatest countries in soccer history. What an achievement! However, the next minute they set a World Cup record by participating in worst margin of defeat in the history of the World Cup. Even the German team said they could not believe it when they scored five goals in eighteen minutes of the first half!

If you are an athlete or a coach for a long period of time, there most likely will come a time when sport embarrasses you. When you accept a leadership position, you are most likely setting yourself up for embarrassing moments.

How do you react to these difficult times?

Pat Riley, the former NBA player and coach and current Miami Heat president, may have addressed it best when he said, “Success is getting up one more time than you’ve been knocked down.”

It’s tough to get up, but get up you must!

07 Jul

Chuck Noll and the Art of Leading, Teaching, and Preparing

Former Pittsburgh Steeler coach, Chuck Noll, passed away June 13, 2014. He certainly was a leader.

When he accepted the Steeler head coaching position in 1969, they were the worst franchise in the NFL. In the previous 34 seasons, they had no championships and only a single playoff appearance.

In his first year they won one game and lost thirteen. The next two years were losing seasons. To say the least, success was not immediate.

But his consistent teaching and preparation led the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships, the most of any coach in the history of the NFL. It is Chuck Noll, not Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, nor George Halas who led his team to four Super Bowl championships.

“Mean Joe” Greene, one of his many Hall of Fame players, said of his leadership, “I know of no one like him before and have never met anybody like him since. There was no hyperbole about him. None at all.”

Those who played for him reiterated that he was a man of few words who never wanted the spotlight on him. Although he could have capitalized on his Super Bowl fame by making commercials and taking endorsements, he made only one commercial in his career and that was for a friend whom he wanted to help.

It was not about him, but it was about the two things he did best – teaching and preparing.

Tony Dungy, another great coach who played safety for him said this about Noll, “He was a teacher first and foremost.” Two of his mantras that his players heard often regarding his teaching were, “Whatever it takes” and “Back to the basics.”

Like all great teachers, he kept things simple. His teaching emphasized the fundamentals, the basics. The first 30 minutes of every practice were spent on blocking and tackling.

The late Bill Gleason, an outstanding Chicago basketball coach and a dear friend, was the first person to teach me the “5 P’s – Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” Keeping things simple, I believe the hallmark of great teaching has always been and always will be preparation.

Noll showed his preparation in two ways. The first was the draft. Through meticulous preparation, he was able to spot talent. His teams were composed of numerous Hall of Famers, almost all acquired through the draft.

Secondly, his preparation showed itself in his teams’ readiness to play. John Clayton, who covered his Steeler teams and is a current ESPN expert on the NFL, said his teams were “the most prepared teams I ever witnessed. His preparation was immaculate.”

It is no wonder why Art Rooney, Jr., one of the Steeler owners, said, “Chuck Noll is the best thing to happen to the Rooney’s since they got on the boat in Ireland.”

Noll left a legacy for leaders to reflect on. It’s not about you; you have to teach; and preparation is preeminent.

03 Jul

Nevermind the Critics: Leaders Fight Through Adversity

I was at the sixth game of the Bulls/Pistons series in Chicago’s United Center. I’ll never forget Michael Jordan’s performance at the game’s end. In the Bulls last eight possessions of the game, he scored on seven of them and had an assist on one.

The intensity in the arena was incredible. The Pistons were the reigning NBA champions and the Bulls just could not beat them. So, Jordan’s performance sent the series to a seventh game in Detroit.

All of Chicago was excited about this seventh game only to have Scottie Pippen get a migraine headache and not be able to play.

In the first game of this year’s Spurs/Heat finals, LeBron James could not play the last seven minutes of the game due to severe cramping.

Both Pippen and James were the recipients of extensive criticism. They simply weren’t tough enough to compete during the most important part of the season.

I have two questions for the critics. Have you ever had a migraine? Has your body ever shut down due to cramping? If you have experienced either of these, you know there is no way you can possibly play with either condition. Just like Pippen and James, leaders will be criticized and often harshly. And just like James and Pippen, leaders have to pay no attention to people who have no idea what they are talking about.

In the last analysis, leaders must get all the data they can, consult with people they trust, see the big picture, and make the best decisions they can. And then adhere to what Sister Margaret Duffy, the late registrar at the University of St. Francis, used to say, “Period. Amen!”

25 Jun

The Quiet Man

John Wayne made the movie but my dear friend, Dr. Gene Curran, lived it.

“The quiet man who spoke so loudly.” This was the refrain used by the homilist for Gene during his eulogy. Gene never spoke about all he did for others; he just did it and did it regularly.

He was a local podiatrist who treated thousands of patients in his lifetime…and often forgot, intentionally, to bill them.

It was said of Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs during this year’s NBA Finals that he is the quietest player in the entire League. Was that one of the reasons why his teammates – great players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili – were so happy for him when he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Finals?

He had little to say, but he sure let his actions speak for himself during the Finals.

Will Rogers, in his own inimitable way, saw this topic from another perspective, “Never miss a good chance to shut-up.”

When I reflect on my father, he had little to say. However when he did talk, it was like that old advertisement for E.F. Hutton. Everyone adhered to that Will Rogers adage and listened. For years, Dad volunteered for the St. Vincent DePaul Society gathering items for the poor in the community. He did it, but I never heard him talk about it.

When all is said and done, a leader, because of his position, does have the opportunity to help others. Albert Einstein had this figured out when he wrote, “I can see no other reason why we are here but to help others.” And I believe we admire people who do it, but don’t advertise it.

“The quiet man who spoke so loudly.” Not a bad mantra for a leader?

16 Jun

A Lesson on Humility from the Spurs

Perhaps the most relevant word to describe the Spurs winning the 2014 NBA championship is “humility.”

John Wooden used to say, “Give all the credit away.” You are the leader. Everyone knows you are the leader. The endeavor was successful. Why do you need the credit? I think humility and credit go hand-in-hand.

When the Spurs owner, Peter Holt, a man ranked as the “ultimate boss” among all sports owners in 2012, was interviewed immediately after the game, he was asked by ESPN’s Stuart Scott how HE did it. Specifically, he was asked “what’s your secret?”

He quickly gave his answer: “My secret is these guys behind me and Coach Pop… It doesn’t start at the top, it starts with them.”

Humility at the top can spread through an entire organization.

It was also interesting to watch Coach Gregg Popovich during the on-the-court post-game interviews. He stayed behind the team and was not interviewed. His actions spoke volumes. Give the credit to the players.

Sean Elliot, who played for the Spurs and Popovich, was asked why the Spurs have been among the top NBA teams for the past two decades. He said it all started with David Robinson and continued with Tim Duncan. The two Spurs superstars were, and are, humble. They set the team tone by wanting to be coached. When the superstars allow themselves to be coached, the rest of the team automatically follows suit.

Something for leaders to consider….Humility at the top can permeate through an entire organization and humility is best seen when all the credit is given away.

13 Jun

Gregg Popovich and an Example of Compassionate Leadership

Ken Babcock wrote, “You can tell the value of a man by the way he treats someone who can do nothing for him.”

This quote made me think of the San Antonio Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich.

When the Nike Basketball Clinics would come to Chicago, our team at the University of St. Francis would demonstrate for the coaches who spoke. It was a nice opportunity for our players to meet and work with coaches whom they saw on television and it was a great opportunity for me and my coaching staff to learn.

One year the Nike people decided to have an NBA only clinic. The only speakers were NBA coaches. I had never seen a clinic like this in my forty-four years of coaching basketball.

Demonstrating for ten different coaches covering many different phases of the game is not an easy job. Our players had to be very attentive for long hours and had to quickly adapt to the teaching and terminology of each coach.

Our guys finished their work on Friday night at 10 p.m. We had to be back in the gym Saturday morning for a 7:30 a.m. lecture and work with the coaches until 10 p.m. that night.

The last speaker Saturday night was Gregg Popovich. None of us had ever met him until that evening. During his presentation our center, Arvydas Astrauskas, turned his ankle badly, an unfortunate accident.

A month after the clinic, out of nowhere, I received a call from Coach Popovich. He asked for Arvydas’ telephone number so he could call him to see how he was doing. His call did surprise Arvydas! He then said he would like to provide tickets for us when the Spurs came to play the Bulls. After the game, he came up and shook hands with each of our players.

This was a real-life reflection of the Babcock quote. We could do absolutely nothing for Coach Popovich. Nothing!

Might this be a good lesson for all leaders to consider?

15 May

Failure is an Option

I heard a commercial recently where the company said, “Failure is an option.” As soon as I heard it, I knew I liked it.

Michael Jordan used to say, “I succeed because I have failed.” Because he wasn’t afraid to fail, he wanted the ball in his hands at the end of the game. He was fearless because he was not afraid to fail.

John Wooden’s college coach at Purdue, Piggy Lambert, used to teach that the team that makes the most mistakes wins, a statement that would make most of today’s basketball coaches cringe. But his point was that if you’re playing aggressive and attacking basketball, you’re going to make mistakes and that’s okay. Don’t let the mistakes get you down. Just keep on attacking.

Often we learn more from failure than success.

I once played for a coach who constantly criticized me and my teammates. His continuous yelling could sometimes take away from your aggressiveness because you knew if you failed you would never hear the end of it. I learned a great deal from that coach on how I did not want to coach. It turned out to be a great learning experience.

I disagree with some of today’s educators who are so much into student’s self-esteem that they strive to take failure out of the students’ lives. I think they are cheating the kids. Like all of us, their students will meet with failure in their lives, both personal and professional. Instead of eliminating failure would it not be much more beneficial to teach kids how to deal with it? Learn from it, put it behind you, and move on.

Failure is an option. It is prevalent in business, in athletics, and in every phase of our lives. So, let’s not fear it but learn from it, and continue to aggressively strive for excellence.