Let Them Lead: How to Make It Special by Making It Hard

Don’t be afraid to give control as a leader. The most successful teams work hard, have compassion, and understand how to transfer leadership between teammates.

Renowned sport’s journalist John U Bacon (@JohnUBacon) has a passion for leadership and teams. He won the Award of the Night Wallace Fellowship for journalism from the University of Michigan. And most interesting, he took the worst high school hockey team as a coach from the worst to one of the best in the country in four years. He is the author of 11 books, seven of which are national bestsellers. His most recent book is a New York Times Best Seller; Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership From America’s Worst High School Hockey Team, shares insights on leadership and the power of making things hard. 

John U. Bacon (@John U Bacon) career as a leader and teacher spans three decades. He has won awards for being an inspiring writer, a public speaker, and a college instructor. Bacon has taught at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, and teaches at the University of Michigan. Although he is a mediocre hockey player his excitement and knowledge of sports has made national history.

“ You are very impatient with behaviors and very patient with results. If your attitude is good, and you're doing all things I'm telling you to do and our processes are correct. If you follow those, you will get there and worry less about the results and more about the process. ” 

- John U. Bacon

Key Takeaways:

• High Bar: Keeping a high bar allows people to rise to the challenge. People prove over and over again that when things are hard and challenging it inspires them to want to do better and become more comfortable with failure. When the bar is held high it teaches people they are more capable and can exceed their own expectations.

• Team Leadership: Strong and successful teams let go of the hierarchical models. The ones in “control” or “command” know when to defer to those in lower ranks when the mission calls for it. Strong leadership is understanding that everyone can lead and needs to lead within their strengths as it is called for.

• Effort is Important: Technique and skills can be taught. If you want to learn how to be more aggressive and successful in business and fall on the shy or introverted spectrum, let go of fear of failure. All good leaders understand that the quality of hard work and effort is more important than someone knowing how to do something correctly. 

• Mentorship Over Money: Having strong mentorship, especially when you are young is more important than making money. The money will come eventually if you have the right attitude, develop your skills, and stay humble.

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Links:

TEDX Talk

John U Bacon Instagram

Let Them Lead The Book