My Leader Crushes: Herb Brooks and Claude Julien. Liam Hemsworth, Bradley Cooper-they don’t do it for me. Hottie actors-yes but they are not my “leader crushes”.
About 2 years ago, our company created a multi-media presentation of the 1980 US Olympic Men’s ice hockey team gold medal (featured in the movie Miracle) to the theme of Team Innovation. Why? It’s a helluva lot more interesting-and who doesn’t like a movie? On a more intellectual note, the most powerful presentations are ones that are delivered in a story telling manner.
OK-so why Brooks and Julien? Answer: It seems as if they both share extreme emotional intelligence when forming a team. In 1980, US Men’s hockey head coach, Herb Brooks hand-picked 26 players (only 20 would make the Olympic team) to take on the best hockey teams in the world, including Russia. In 1980, the US didn’t have professionals play. Other national teams, like Russia only had professional players play in the Olympics. On U.S. soil, Brooks chose 26 kids-yes kids to take on the world! The result: Gold medal and America’s greatest sports achievement of the 20th century. Don’t believe me? Believe Sports Illustrated.
So 2 days after Christmas when I was lazily reading the Globe, I saw this article: Lucic is still hoping to make Olympic team. Now as it turns out, he didn’t make the Canadian Olympic hockey team-BUT I still get goose bumps when I read this quote from Claude Julien, assistant coach to team Canada (and Lucic’s head coach with the Bruins)
Sometimes it’s not about the best players on a team, it’s about taking the players that are going to make the best team.
We have to look at it that way as well.
It mirrors exactly what Brooks believed-and did in 1980. Putting A players together is tempting, but can they work together? Can they put their egos aside for the overall success of the team? Do the players have the right behaviors and traits to succeed as a team? Sadly I think team Canada didn’t make the right choice with Lucic , but I still have a crush on Brooks and Julien for their beliefs and philosophies.
Stephanie Mello, VP, @stepheeg, @emplyengagement
Sources:
Boston Globe, December 27, 2013, Benjamin, Amalie, Lucic is still hoping to make Olympic team
Wikipedia, Miracle
Bleacher Report,1980 Miracle on Ice: Greatest Moment in Sports History, February 22, 2011
