The Success of the New England Patriots: It All Makes Sense to Me Now
Leaders set the tone and the example that their teams, organizations and businesses
will follow. Like it or not, if you are at the top of the organizational chart, your
people will follow the examples you set.
I recently had the opportunity and the pleasure to meet one of the great professional
sports coaches of our time – Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England
Patriots. We met through a mutual friend after a recent home game at Gillette Stadium.
The meeting was brief, and I am sure Coach Belichick won't remember much (if anything)
about the meeting or about me. However, it made a significant impression on me. What
I observed revealed volumes about Coach Belichick, and there is plenty for any would-be
leader to learn from the man. His priorities appear to be in the correct place, and
he sets a tone for his team that, in the opinion of many who follow the Patriots,
has had a direct correlation to their success on the field.
I met Coach Belichick outside his office soon after a big win. The Patriots had
just performed well and had taken another major step forward in their potentially
historic 2007-2008 season. (As of this writing, the Patriots are 14-0.) Two things
struck me about this encounter.
When we met, the game had been over for less than 30 minutes and he was already
surrounded by family and friends. Everyone in our group said something to the effect
of “great win, Coach.” All of us would have been ecstatic to discuss
football and his team. Instead, he responded to our congratulations with respect
and gratitude, but was far more concerned about the people around him at that moment,
whether they knew how to get home and avoid the traffic and slick driving conditions
that were developing. Discussions about the game were secondary to a few precious
moments with family. Coach Belichick had the game in the proper perspective.
I also noticed something about the hallways in the team offices. Each wall was covered
with great action photos of the many players who have contributed to their success
over the years. What struck me, however, was what I did not
see – I did not
see even a single photo of a Super Bowl trophy, or any evidence that they have won
three times under Coach Belichick. Now, it is entirely possible that there was a
major trophy display that I missed. But from my perspective, what seemed to be celebrated
were talent and hard work, not trophies or awards. The message I took was that success
in years past is exactly that – past.
Coach Belichick has long been respected for his no-nonsense approach to his work.
He has enjoyed nearly unparalleled success in his career as an NFL coach – five
Super Bowl wins, and counting. His teams have always seemed to exemplify traits that
I assumed he valued – emotional balance and consistency; dedication to hard
work; and a focus on the next accomplishment.
A brief encounter will never tell you everything about a person, just as an interview
clip on ESPN or a description in a book won’t reveal all. But occasionally
a quick vignette can tell you a great deal. What you see, or don’t see, on
someone’s office walls or bookshelves can be very instructive. The New England
Patriots’ success has always made sense – they are talented and undeniably
well-coached. But there is more to the story than that. Coach Belichick’s team
works hard, supports each other like family, and never rests on past victories.
After spending a few moments with their leader, their success now makes more sense
to me than ever before.
For the interested, I highly recommend The Education of a Coach, by David Halberstam.
• Dean M. Brenner
December 17, 2007
Wallingford, CT
 Beacon Issue -
January 2008
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