21 Practices Of Leaders Like Nick Saban And Urban Meyer Who Perform At The Highest Level

21 Practices Of Leaders Like Nick Saban And Urban Meyer Who Perform At The Highest Level

Today is a day college football fans have long dreamed of – the start of the play-offs.  As a leader, I love days like this because leadership comes to the forefront.  This is the highest level of competition and whether you lead a church, business, non-profit or athletic team, there is much to learn from today and apply to your organization.
The following are 21 Practices Of Leaders Like Nick Saban And Urban Meyer Who Perform At The Highest Level I gleaned from ESPN’s College Gameday telecast:

1. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Stay Prepared – “Next man up means be ready when your number is called is called.” – Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones
2. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Seize Opportunity – “That’s what our program is about.  Not one person is not going to define this team…You’re going to get an opportunity.  It’s a question if you’re ready to seize that opportunity.” Ohio State’s Taylor Decker
3. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Are Confident – “He’s been so much more confident.  We feel that’s everything, especially playing the quarterback position.” Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on Blake Sims
4. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Understand The Importance Of Legacy – “Let’s make history.” – Alabama’s All-American safety Landon Collins
5. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Have Proper Motivation – “If that’s your motivation (being an underdog), we’re not the organization I thought we were.  You constantly have to fight for respect.” – Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher
6. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Continually Change – “What defensive staff with 24 days can come up with a new defensive package?” – Lee Corso
7. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Start Well – “Florida State cannot start slow.  This is not the game and this is not the opponent you can do that against.” – Kirk Herstreit
8. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Are Focused – “I’ve been really pleased with our players and their ability to maintain intensity and stay focused.” – Nick Saban
9. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Maintain Momentum – “You’re always concerned when you’ve been off for awhile and you come back and how you are going to carry the momentum from the season to the game you play.” – Saban
10. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Understand Timing – “This is not the right time for a Knute Rockne speech.” – Saban
11. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Do Not Make Excuses – “You can’t wallow in self-pity…You can’t have a built in excuse.  You can’t tell people how rocky the sea is.  You have to bring the ship in.” – Lou Holtz
12. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Make Gameday Adjustments – “A lot of coaches can prepare if they have a month…The difference between the Nick Sabans and Urban Meyers, the Pete Carrolls is what they adjust to during the game.  They’ve seen it all.” – Mack Brown
13. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Have Great Attention To Detail – “He’s always a guy who pays great attention to detail…He organizes everything and keeps things in order…His #1 attribute is organizational skills.” – Desmond Howard
14. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Have Great Teams – “I’ve coached poor players and I’ve coached really good players.  I was a better coach with really good players.” – Brown
15. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Produce Measurable Results – “If you lose, you lose.  It doesn’t matter if you’re 2nd, 4th or 50th.  The winner is the one who ends up being a great team.  Everyone else dies.  Who came in 3rd last year?” – Brown
16. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Consistently Make Good Decisions – “In ACC football championships he (Jameis Winston) made the best decisions he’s made all year.” – Danny Kinnell
17. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Trust Others – “Jameis has to trust his system…The opportunities will come.  You don’t have to force them.” – Kinnell
18. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Treat Others Well – “Treat yourself well.  Treat your teammates.  Take care of people.” – Meyer
19. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Keep Things Simple – “Four to six seconds of relentless effort.  Focus.  Regroup and go again.  That’s the way the game of football is played.” – Meyer
20. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Expect And Overcome Adversity – “Adversity and tragedy can rip a team apart.  It can also make a close team real.” – Meyer
21. Leaders Who Perform At The Highest Level Define Reality - “The SEC is the king right now.  It’s a well-deserved king.” – Meyer

My predictions are victories for Alabama (very close) and Oregon comfortably.  Your thoughts?