Want to Be a Football (and Basketball) Hall of Fame Boss? Here's How.Take these lessons from 5 honoree coaches.

ByJed Hughes

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

Coaches are honored in the football Hall of Fame (college and pro) because, during their careers, they created a work environment that allowed their team to win. In business, effective bosses employ many of the same strategies and tactics, to lead their teams to victories in the boardroom and on Wall Street.

Related: 5 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Football Coaches

Throughout my own NFL and collegiate coaching career, I've worked with, and consequently, learned from, Hall of Fame coaches from Chuck Noll, Bud Grant, Tony Dungy and Bo Schembechler, to Jack Christiansen, John Ralston and Terry Donahue. I was also fortunate to have a close relationship with legendary basketball coach John Wooden during my tenure at UCLA; and I display hisPyramid of Successprominently in my office.

With my coaching days behind me, I now work on the firing (and hiring) line -- advising sports franchises and organization searching for such game-changing leaders as commissioners, CEOs, head coaches and general managers. This has given me the opportunity to connect the best practices and key leadership attributes of the business world to sustainable, winning organizations in professional sports.

Here are some of the X's and O's I've learned from these legendary coaches:

John Wooden (UCLA): Take responsibility for your career.

对面有一个储物柜约翰木的六个years, I found out early during our weekly breakfasts that passion and hard work are critical to success in any job. If you don't like what you do, you'll find that the chances you'll work hard at it are slim.

On the flip side, if you're working hard, you probably enjoy it. These two characteristics-- passion and hard work --are mutually inclusive. That's why both are cornerstones of Wooden's pyramid, which has success as its apex.

John Ralston (Stanford): Be the cheerleader.

John Ralston built a culture that was distinctive in allowing individuals to perform to their full potential. Ralston, the long-time coach of the Stanford Cardinals, was extremely positive. He was Dale Carnegie trained, believing that, "Every day is the best day of your life and tomorrow will be even better."

That attitude permeated every meeting Ralston led, whether he won a game or lost it, or had a bad practice: He always accentuated positive values. Perhaps that's why quarterback Jim Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy in 1970.

Bo Schembechler(Michigan): Passion and loyalty are fundamental.

As tough and demanding as the University of Michigan's Bo Schembechler could be, he also cared about his players as much as anyone could. I once witnessed him go face to face with a player at practice, screaming through his face mask; and, later in the locker room, there Bo sitting next to that same player.

When he knew you were working hard for him, he was the first to make a phone call to help you in whatever way he could. If a player lost someone in his family, Bo would be the first one at the funeral. He did such things famously for,"The Team. The Team. The Team."

Infusing an environment with that depth of empathy and support lets your employees know that you have their back. If you're tough and critical, as Bo was, you need to have a heart to match those aspects of your personality.

Related:20 Quotes From Football Legends to Help Take Your Game to the Next Level

Bud Grant (Vikings): Accountability breeds responsibility.

In his locker room Coach Bud Grant, the boss, set a true tone of professionalism. He taught each of his players to understand that as members of his team, they were part of a business. When you needed to perform, it was your responsibility to execute. If you didn't do that, you were held accountable.

和其他许多教练会责备coaches if players underperform, in Bud's organization, the players were the ones accountable for their mistakes. Your employees need to know that they're responsible for their actions (or lack of), because you're holding them accountable.

Chuck Noll (Steelers): Focus on improving yourself.

If you ever talked to any athlete who played for Chuck Noll, he would tell you that improvement begins from within oneself. On Chuck's team, each person's job was to be the best he could be and have the type of resolve he needed to be successful. Whether the team won or lost, it was never about the person next to you, but about a self-examination on how to enhance your performance to contribute to the team's overall success.

Noll said, "Champions are not champions because they do anything extraordinary, but because they do the ordinary things better than anyone else."

As the leader, examine your strengths and weaknesses daily -- it's your practice in becoming a hall of fame boss.

All the coaches I worked with helped me understand the value of passion, culture, empathy, and accountability -- all essentials in the business world and in life. Many challenges we face day to day revolve around having the right attitude and, regardless of circumstances, the self-control to handle the situation at hand.

Related:15 Motivational Quotes From Legends in Sports

Whether the setting is the practice field or the boardroom. If you approach each opportunity with a positive mindset, your chances of succeeding are significantly enhanced.

Jed Hughes

Vice Chair, Leader, Korn Ferry Global Sports Practice

Jed Hughes, a former NFL and collegiate football coach, is the vice chair and leader ofKorn Ferry’s global sports practice. Hughes leads high-profile executive search placements for head coaches, commissioners and front-office executives. Hughes coached football under seven Hall of Fame coaches: Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh Steelers), Bud Grant (Minnesota Vikings), Tony Dungy (Pittsburgh Steelers), Jack Christiansen (Stanford), Bo Schembechler (Michigan), John Ralston (Stanford), and Terry Donahue (UCLA).

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Ideas

These Retirees Just Wanted Their Cats to Drink More Water. Now Their Remote Side Hustle Makes $80,000 a Year.

This couple wanted to make and sell something from the comfort of their home. Now they're offering up their playbook for others.

Business News

Taylor Swift Reportedly Pays All Restaurant-Goers' Checks to Clear Out Restaurant For Her and NFL Star Travis Kelce

The star was spotted at Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday night alongside Kelce's mother.

Business News

'Please Fix This': Elon Musk Frantically Emails Employees During Livestream Glitch

Musk attempted to livestream his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.

领导

A Guide to Effective Crisis Leadership — Key Steps to Lead Your Team Through Turbulent Times

The essential strategies and skills required to be a successful crisis leader and guide your organization through difficult times.

Business News

Costco Isn't Facing Devastating Surges in Theft Like Target and Walmart — and the Reason Is Very Simple

The retailer's CFO revealed its strategy during a fourth-quarter-earnings call.

Business News

'Treat People the Way You Want to be Treated': Pilot Goes Viral For Rant Directed at 'Selfish' Passengers

The American Airlines pilot wasn't tolerating any unruly behavior.