If you want to achieve things others have not, you must pay a price others will not. Such a leader is the head coach of the New England Patriots Bill Belichick.
Jeff Benedict recently published what I feel is the definitive work on Coach Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady, and team owner Robert Kraft. The book is appropriately called The Dynasty. This book is a masterpiece!!! I would obviously recommend this book to sports fans. But it is also an incredible business book as you will learn how Kraft purchased one of the most poorly-run franchises in football and turned the Patriots into one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises in less than a decade. It is a phenomenal leadership book. And finally, it is a book about the relational complexities which exist with highly-competitive ultra-achievers. I cannot recommend The Dynasty enough. Click HERE or on the image provided to purchase your copy.
On pages 495-496 Benedict writes, “But Belichick was much more sensitive than he ever let on. While it was true that he possessed the discipline of a drill sergeant when it came to personnel decisions, he didn’t relish that part of his job. And nothing hurt him more than the feeling that his players didn’t like him. Belichick loved his players, and he wanted to be loved by them. There was no place in the world he’d rather be than on a practice field or on the sideline during a game, surrounded by players. In that environment, he demonstrated how he felt about them by the way he pushed them. And he pushed his best players – the ones he admired most – the hardest. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to prepare them to become champions. He knew his players considered him ‘an #&*hole’ at times. Yet it still stung to hear it.
For Belichick, leadership came with a price. So did winning. His coaching style put extreme pressure on everyone around him. He intimidated people. That was by design. He believed that those who couldn’t handle the pressure from him wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure it took to win championships in the NFL.”
When we read those words we are given just a glimpse of the price Coach Belichick paid to become arguably the greatest coach of all-time. As we analyze the phrases used, we glean the following 5 Prices Bill Belichick Paid To Become A Championship Coach No One Talks About:
- Bill Belichick Paid The Price Of Hard Decisions – “when it came to personnel decisions, he didn’t relish that part of his job.”
- Bill Belichick Paid The Price Of Rejection – “And nothing hurt him more than the feeling that his players didn’t like him.”
- Bill Belichick Paid The Price Of Loneliness – “Belichick loved his players, and he wanted to be loved by them.”
- Bill Belichick Paid The Price Of Being Misunderstood – “And he pushed his best players – the ones he admired most – the hardest. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to prepare them to become champions.”
- Bill Belichick Paid The Price Of Disrespect – “He knew his players considered him ‘an #&*hole’ at times. Yet it still stung to hear it.”
When people discuss the leadership of Coach Belichick, they do not talk about his EQ or soft skills. But Coach Belichick is human and winning took a significant toil in this area of his life.
Hard Decisions, Rejection, Loneliness, Being Misunderstood, and Disrespect. Are you willing to pay these 5 prices as leader? If not, you may never reach your leadership potential.
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