Chemistry is one of those things which is hard to define but you know it when you have it.  You also know it when you don’t.  Interestingly, legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban says in the video above you can never have team chemistry.  This is completely counter-intuitive to what leaders are traditionally taught.

Point #3 gives us Coach Saban’s reason along with 8 additional leadership quotes and lessons from the video above:

  1. Great Teams Have Great Communication – “The big part of being a team is you being able to communicate with other people…”
  2. Great Teams Are Able To Work Together – “and work with other people.”
  3. “You can never have team chemistry for this reason – Mediocre people don’t like high achievers.  And high achievers don’t like mediocre people.”
  4. Leaders Who Don’t Create Buy-In Are Unsuccessful Leaders – “So if everybody don’t buy-in to the principles and values of the organization and the same high standard, you’re never going to be successful.”
  5. Practice Is For Getting The Right Guys On The Bus – “Do you know what my goal for spring practice is?  Get the right guys on the bus.  Get them in the right seats and…”
  6. Practice Is Also For Getting The Wrong Guys Off The Bus – “get the wrong guys off the bus.”
  7. If You Want To Be A Leader You Have To Make A Choice – “Which one of those people do you want to be?”
  8. You Can Never Have Any Team Chemistry In Your Organization If… – “You can never have any team chemistry in your organization if everybody’s not committed to the same standard and the same things.”
  9. Successful Leaders Value Simplicity – “When I worked for Bill Belichick we had one sign in the building.  It was Do Your Job.”

What is one thing you learned from Coach Saban’s comments which will make you a better leader?

To receive more leadership insights from Coach Saban, click HERE or on the image to the left for my new ebook The Leadership Of Nick Saban: Timeless Truths From The Incomparable Head Coach Of The Alabama Crimson Tide.  Enjoy!

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