Salesopedia - What the New York Giants Can Teach Us All

What the New York Giants Can Teach Us All

Written by Billy Cox

Sports, Business and Life have a lot in common and we can all learn a valuable lesson from the New York Giants and their coach Tom Coughlin. Tom has always been known as a hard nose coach with no feelings and little compassion. He made all the decisions and it was his way or the highway.

After last season, he did what any good coach or leader would do, he reflected on the season and he tried to figure out ways for his team to get better. As a result of this mental exercise, Tom changed his approach from simply coaching to leading. First, he decided that he was going to have fun. Second, he realized that he was doing a poor job of communicating his vision to the team and the reasons behind the vision. So, he started a Team leadership council as a way of communicating better with his players.

The Team’s leaders embraced Tom’s new vision and they helped distribute it to the players and everyone in the organization. In other words, it wasn't Tom Coughlin’s team any longer for it was now their Team. These seemingly small decisions proved to make a big difference in results.

As with any change in strategy, the results aren't always immediate. Despite starting the season with two losses, the Giants didn't panic and Coughlin stuck to his new philosophy and by the playoffs they were peaking. Even though they were underdogs against the Cowboys and the Packers they won both games.

Going into the Super Bowl, no one seemed to believe that the Giants had any chance of beating the undefeated Patriots. Many were touting the Patriots as the greatest team in the history of the game. The Giants went into the game as 12 point underdogs and they left as Super Bowl champs. This feat will no doubt be considered as one of the greatest victories and biggest upsets of all time.

So what can business leaders, managers and salespeople learn from Coach Tom Coughlin. First, analyze the situation and look for areas to improve. You accomplish this goal by evaluating your performance and making adjustments. Start by asking yourself these simple questions:

        1) What are some areas I want to improve?
        2) Which areas, if improved, would have the biggest impact on the team’s performance?
        3) What are some simple changes I can make today to get started?

Once you decide the areas that you need to improve and the changes that you need to make, start implementing them immediately.

Second, have fun. Successful people constantly find new ways to create a game-like environment within their organizations. Games promote competition and competition challenges you and your team to rise to higher levels. You can always find ways to create a little competition. Many companies create contests and reward their employees with awards and bonuses. Most people will work harder for awards and recognition than for money because of the satisfaction they get from winning.

Successful organizations create an atmosphere where their employees have an opportunity to win, which makes them want to compete. You can accomplish this objective by incorporating a few of the elements that exist within a game or contest. For example, you can “Keep Score” by tracking everyone’s progress and updating the “Score Board” so everyone can see who is winning the game.

A score board can be as simple as a marker board and some charts and graphs that show key information including goals and progress toward those goals. Regardless of your business or endeavor, you can incorporate elements of a game to encourage healthy competition.

Finally, create ownership of the vision with “your team” by making it “their team.” Many corporations spend a great deal of time and money trying to increase the creativity within their organization hoping to get a competitive edge. But, such programs are useless unless management learns to recognize the value of each player and find ways to make them a part of the vision.

If I could summarize how Tom Coughlin managed his Team’s remarkable turnaround, it was through creating ownership. In my opinion, this one action greatly contributed to Coughlin and his Team’s success and it is the most important factor that will improve your team’s morale and boosts their performance.

Tom created ownership by forming a Leadership Council. In his players’ minds, it went from being “his team” to “their team.” It was “their team” to endure and lose or it was “their team” to practice and improve. If they wanted to be proud of their team and win a championship it became their choice, not Tom’s.

To create a visionary team, each player must commit themselves to one another and to an unselfish style of play. How many sports teams do you know that have a lot of talent but continue to lose? Then you hear about other teams that don’t have any real superstars but they win championships.

Making it “their team” transfers accountability for success to each team member. Members on high performing teams know that to succeed they will have to step up their performance and fortunately their peers keep pressure on them to achieve their goals.

Great leaders understand the power of ownership. Don’t waste the spirits, gifts, energies, talents, and the sense of life that people bring to your team. Instead, learn from Tom Coughlin and the new Super Bowl Champions New York Giants and make it “their team.”

Billy Cox
		About the author:
		Internationally recognized business leader, author, and inspirational speaker Billy Cox energizes people to dream big, take action, and achieve results. His message comes from the authenticity and credibility of his own inspiring, all-American success story. Billy Cox now teaches the essentials that led to his own success – he has lived what he speaks. Billy pairs his powerful message with a high-energy, passionate, and down-to-earth style. Visit his website at www.championshipsales.com or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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