Two weeks ago I posted a blog (https://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/leadership-lessons-from-the-habs-amazing-victory-over-the-maple-leafs) on the Habs amazing come from behind victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal finished the regular season in 18th place. The team won only 24 of 56 games, the lowest seeded team to make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This underachieving organization has now defeated three teams including one with one of the best records during the regular season. What can businesses learn from this remarkable success? Here are five lessons to be gleaned from this amazing underdog story.
1. Results Dictate whether an Organization has the Right Team in place
The Canadiens GM made some significant additions during last year’s off season. He added a top defenseman (Joel Edmonson), three top forwards (Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Corey Perry) and a high-quality goalie (Jake Allen) to back up Carey Price. The team started the year on fire and then had an uninspiring, mediocre season. A team that was constructed to make a deep run in the playoffs was on the verge of failing to qualify.
The GM then made more changes. He fired and replaced three coaches including the head coach. He went out and added another aging but quality forward (Eric Staal) and two more defensemen (Jon Merrill, Erik Gustafson, a power play specialist). Management also made some personnel changes for the Leafs playoff series. They benched the young centre, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and made limited use of the newly recruited defensemen. The Habs fell behind 3 games to one against the Leafs.
Management then made further changes. It brought back Jesperi Kotkiemi, a young centre, inserted the two newly acquired defensemen and added a rookie forward who was just fresh out of college hockey, Cole Caulfield. The Habs then went on to defeat the Leafs, Jets and the Golden Knights.
Lesson 1 - A leadership team needs to keep tinkering with its team until strong results are achieved.
2. Change your Operating System if it is not Delivering the Right Payoff
Early in the playoffs it was clear that the Canadiens needed to make changes to more than their personnel. They needed to change their game plan. They needed to tighten up on their checking, play their big top four defensemen the majority of the time, move players from the other team away from their own net to ensure Carey Price could see the shots, and win the battles in all three hockey zones. These were big changes, but they clearly worked.
Lesson 2 – Every Team needs a Well-Designed Plan and it must be Executed Meticulously to Achieve Success.
3. Supply your Team with the Tools for Success Since the players were being asked to play a much more structured, disciplined game, they needed to be coached on their individual and collective assignments and held accountable for their actions. The Habs’ success is coming from having every player “buy-in” to the team game plan and then utilizing their unique skills and experience within this structure. All four lines were asked to stick to the plan. They did and played some nearly flawless hockey.
Lesson 3 – Coach and Train your Team and make sure they have the Tools to Succeed.
4. Results Drive Confidence, Confidence Drives Results
As the Habs began to achieve success with their revised roster, revised plan, and refreshed skills, this produced a new level of confidence. This was very evident as the playoffs progressed. The Canadiens played with a much higher level of confidence than they did during the regular season, or during the beginning of their playoff run. Just as results drive confidence, confidence (in conjunction with the other changes outlined above) produces results.
Lesson 4 – Recognize and Reward Team Success
5. Be Passionate about Creating a Very Positive Team Environment
I listened to interviews with the players, coaches and management throughout the playoff run. We all observed their actions on the ice and in the private boxes. Montreal has created a very close-knit team atmosphere. The players genuinely care about each other and are trying to help each other on and off the ice. At the end of the Vegas series, everyone could observe the GM, Marc Bergevin, jumping up and down in jubilation, high fiving, hugging and even kissing some of his players. We all like to know that people care and acknowledge what we do.
Lesson 5 – Be Passionate about Individual and Team Success and Display this Passion to your team.
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