Football tells us that managers matter

18-Jan-25
If ever you wanted proof that “managers matter” watch a game of football. Time and again you’ll see the impact that great managers (aka, coaches) can have on individuals – to enable them to play to their strengths -, and on teams – to enable them to be greater than the sum of their parts. Vice versa, you see the impact that poor managers have...

Season over season you see players thrive, or wither on the vine, depending on the style of the coaching and the environment and culture of the organization.

As a Stanford season ticket holder I watched the “Give it McCaffrey” play dominate Coach Shaw’s playbook from 2014-16. But the McCaffrey magic didn’t sparkle at the Panthers; poor O-line, injuries, call it what you will, but the environment and coaching style didn’t allow him to play to his strengths. Now at the 49ers, we’ve been able to experience his magic again.

Russell Wilson did back-to-back SuperBowl appearances at Seattle; bombed with the Broncos,; and is back showing form again under Coach Tomlin at the Steelers.

And it’s not just the coaching and the environment that matter – it’s demonstrating to people that they are valued and appreciated too. Take people for granted and one day your competitor will take advantage of that. Saquon Barkley, feeling under-appreciated by the Giants moved on. With the Eagles this season, he’s become the 9th player in NFL history to have exceeded 2,000 rushing yards in a single season.

So, while you’re enjoying the games this weekend, take a moment to think about the players or teams who’ve thrived under one style of management/coaching, and been a ‘low performer’ under another. It’s true in sport and it’s true in business: managers and organizations who focus on taking advantage of individual and team strengths, appreciating their people in ways that are meaningful to them, and creating the environment where they can grow, will always be winners because their people will always give everything, and more, in return.