This Halloween, legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban will turn 71 years old, but it appears he is only getting started. This will be his 16th season at Alabama and he just signed a $93.6 million contract extension through the 2030 season.
In this ESPN article written by Chris Low, Coach Saban gives us insight into what is required to stay relevant and have longevity as a leader. These are must read insights for all leaders.
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must First Feel Young
Staying relevant starts by having the perspective of a younger person. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. (KJV)”. Coach Saban said, “First of all, I feel like a young man.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Remain Flexible
You must reject rigidity and willing change with the times.
Coach Saban said, “You have to be flexible. I think that’s one of the most important things about competitive sports. You know, the game has changed. The 3-point shot changed basketball. So you either change with it or you fall behind.” Coach Saban then applied this concept to college football. He noted, “The no-huddle changed football, RPOs changed football. If you don’t sort of study the game and know the impact of these things and use them to your advantage, you’re going to just completely get bypassed by a lot of folks.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Choose To Be Successful
You have the right to make whatever choices you would like. But you don’t have the right to choose the consequences of those choices. You do not hear about this talked about in political campaigns but a lot of someone’s individual success is largely determined by their personal choices.
Success does not happen by default. It starts with a desire for success and then making the choices needed to achieve it. While everyone does not have the same starting point, success is available for everyone if you make the right choices. You make your choices and then your choices make you.
Coach Saban said, “I heard it said that none of us are born winners and none of us are born losers. We’re all born choosers. So choosing the right things that are going to help you be successful … that doesn’t really change.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Create Value For Others
Under the leadership of Nick Saban, 114 Alabama players have been selected in the NFL Draft through 2022 including 41 first-rounders. Alabama has also had a first round pick in the last 14 consecutive NFL Drafts, tying a NFL record. Coach Saban said, “The one thing, because of the brand that we have here, that players can see is they can earn a tremendous amount of money because of the brand and because of the image that they can create using that brand to promote themselves, which has happened.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Avoid Personality Conflicts And Distractions
Earlier this year, Coach Saban and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher engaged in a well-documented public squabble over recruiting and payments to players. Coach Saban said, “You know, things like that used to bother me a lot, and no one is happy about those things when they’re said about you. But I’ve kind of learned that you really can’t let this kind of stuff affect who you are.” It appears both have moved on since that time.
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Be Continually Challenged
To no one’s surprise, Coach Saban said, “I wouldn’t want to coach someplace that didn’t have a high standard.” Regardless of his age, experience, or amount of success, Coach Saban will not reduced to a level of mediocrity. This brings us to the next point…
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Continually Improve
Coach Saban said, “I think I’ve become a better teacher. I think yelling and screaming at players in this day and age really goes in one ear and out the other. If you want them to really resonate on what you’re saying, you just need to teach it, and sometimes, it works better if you do it individually than if you do it in front of other people. That’s not something I considered in years past, several years past.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Focus On The Right Things
However, no one is going to confuse Coach Saban for Mr. Rogers. He admitted, “I still can get hot under the collar every now and then, but I try to leave that to intangible things like giving effort, playing with toughness and finishing plays and not necessarily mental errors.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Surround Yourself With The Right People
Nothing makes a leader as effective as being surrounded by growing leaders. As John Maxwell teaches, those closest to the leader really does determine their level of success. Coach Saban said, “We don’t have a lot of what I call energy vampires, guys that take all your time because they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do. We have a team that has bought in, and they’re all trying to do the right thing.”
To Stay Relevant And Have Longevity As A Leader You Must Surround Yourself With The Right Leaders
Your best players must establish the level of intolerance for poor performance. Coach Saban concluded, “When the best players on your team are the best leaders, that’s really a good thing.”
Another incredible resource on Coach Saban is John Talty’s new book The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama’s Coach Became The Great Ever. If you have not purchase your copy yet, you can do so by clicking HERE or on the image below.
