I read a profile on a Georgia football coach named Sam Pittman.  He coaches the offensive line.

The article is by Seth Emerson of The Athletic –  he describes why Sam’s players love to play for him and how he’s effective.

Three themes arise:

Connection – His personality allows him to connect.  His focus on understanding what makes the young players tick.

Caring – He causes them to understand he is on their side.  His players hear from him a plan, unique to each one, on how he plans for their development.  The specifics of the plan cause them to know he’s given special consideration to each of them.  It’s rare.  It communicates he cares.

Character – He is consistent.  He counts them learning through teaching rather than screaming and yelling.  His personality is the same.  He is a father figure to them.

These three traits; connection, caring and character are leadership factors that promote a success culture.

We teach that people stay or leave because of their bosses.  It’s simple isn’t it?

Boss doesn’t connect.

Boss doesn’t care.

Boss doesn’t think his character matters.

The result is no team.  No culture.  No success.