#726 special

I just read an article about University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban's strategy of using special teams.  Most football coaches focus on offense or defense, but Saban focuses on the men who come in to perform a specific task.  Instead of filling teams with second string players, he puts some of his stars on these short-term units.  

All of the greats, including Alabama, have strong offense and defense.  The special teams provide them the margin of success to gain advantage in the critical moments.  

In your organization, do you only focus on the offense and defense -- paying attention to the usual suspects while neglecting to develop and motivate the occasional player?  As a coach, do you provide attention and opportunities for all the members on your team?  Do you think about ways to capitalize on the margins instead of competing head to head in the same ways that your competitors do?

Think about your support staff, your night shift, the student employees or the people your guests meet on the way to meet you.  Are they winning you points or detracting from your game?

Saban sets a good example of where he invests his time and resources.  For Alabama, the special teams are, well, indeed special.  Try to make them important in your organization too.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Source:  http://studentaffairscollective.org/why-nick-saban-coaches-special-teams-and-what-it-means-for-your-organization   by Matt Bloomingdale