Nick Saban, the legendary head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, recently retired, leaving an indisputable legacy. Often, we view football programs through a narrow lens, focusing solely on the sport. Yet, under Saban’s leadership, the Alabama football program emerged not only as a sports powerhouse but a model organization for excellence, generating over $214 million in annual revenue.
As he should, Saban views his role as much more than a coach, defining his job as providing leadership, developing relationships, helping people take advantage of opportunities, and ensuring they have the discipline to do it.
In Saban’s words, leadership is about helping somebody else and affecting them for their benefit. If it is for your benefit, it is manipulation. He emphasizes that we must develop relationships as leaders so the people we lead know we care.
His philosophy is undoubtedly more than just Xs and Os. Coined the greatest Nick Saban Leadership Speech, Saban talks about his methods, which offer invaluable insights for business leaders seeking to elevate their teams and organizations.
As I explore the depth of Saban’s leadership philosophy, it becomes evident that his strategies are not just about guiding a football team to victory but about orchestrating success in any organizational context.
The Team
In 2016, Saban shared that the one thing he fears the most about retiring is the fact that he would no longer be a part of a team. Because to him, being a part of a team is one of the greatest feelings you will ever get.
To cultivate a great team, Saban advocates for:
- Unified Goals – Everyone on the team must be aligned and have the same goal
- Defined Roles and Rules – Clarity in each individual’s role and responsibilities is essential, and each individual must do their job, be responsible for their role, and be held accountable
- Togetherness – There needs to be a sense of unity that is more than just physical presence
Saban observes, “Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” I am drawn to this quote because of its accuracy and powerful impact. As leaders, when we let these two things coexist, our team will never have togetherness.
The Process
Saban’s philosophy centers around “The Process,” a concept emphasizing consistent hard work and attention to detail over the fixation on outcomes.
Saban tells his team, “Don’t think about winning the SEC Championship. Don’t think about the national championship. Think about what you needed to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment. That’s the process: Let’s think about what we can do today, the task at hand.”
When applied to business, this approach encourages leaders to focus on the small, daily improvements that lead to long-term success.
Saban’s approach offers a refreshing perspective: goals don’t always have to be tangible end-points. By shifting the focus away from goals and outcomes to the immediate presence of daily tasks and actions, a leader cultivates a “process mindset.” This mindset is not just about ticking off a checklist of tasks; it’s about immersing yourself in the minutiae of these tasks with dedication and precision.
Discipline
At the heart of Saban’s leadership philosophy lies the understanding of discipline:
- There is something that I am supposed to do that I really don’t want to do – Can I make myself do it?
- There is something that I know I’m not supposed to do that I really want to do – Can I keep myself from it?
These two questions encapsulate the essence of self-discipline, powerful, plain and simple. It’s about doing the necessary, often challenging work that drives progress.
As I reflect on Saban’s storied career, it’s clear that the principles of his success on the field can be just as effective in the boardroom.
To Saban, a winning mindset is defined as:
- Have a vision for what you want to accomplish
- Define the process to accomplish it
- Have the discipline to execute it every day
By building the right team, embracing the process, and fostering a culture of discipline and excellence, business leaders can lead their teams to heights as lofty as those achieved by the Crimson Tide under Saban’s guidance.
