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發表於 2014-3-16 20:49:54
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KEITH RUMJAHN
10 Similarities Between a Head Coach and Startup CEO
I spent most of my last week shadowing the head coach of South China FC. It was definitely an eye opening experience to see how a professional football team operates. Watching them train, strategize and then executing it in a game made me feel like I was part of the team.
The highlight was when I was granted access to the half time locker room to watch coach strategize and coach. That moment is a moment I will never forget.
In the end, we tied the game but as a league leader it’s equivalent to a loss. I saw coach getting interviewed after the game and I can only imagine the tough questions he has to answer.
During my time, I realized many similarities between being a head coach and my role as CEO.
1. Strategy
As the head coach, you are responsible for the strategy. The lineup, when to substitute and emphasis on attack. However, the coach can’t play. He can only coach from the sidelines and the players are the ones executing out on the field.
As CEO, it’s not possible for me to jump in and write code for our apps. I’m really counting on my developers to execute the strategy I lay ahead.
2. Dealing with criticism
I thought I had it rough when I see people writing 1 star reviews and sending me complaint emails with expletive words. I checked South China’s facebook page after the game and the fans are so critical with what they say.
Imagine they set up a facebook page for you and hundreds of people comment on your weekly performance. Saying you should quit your job and they should replace you with someone better on a bad week.
3. 80% is planning
Most of the work of a coach is off the field. As a coach, you are responsible for training the tactical, technical, physical and mental preparation of your players. You have plans for the entire season, per month, per week and per session.
For example, against a weaker team like Yuen Long they are going to play defence and go for counter attacks. So as a coach, your weekly planning should include more attacking drills with periodization planned. Peridization meaning you alternate training intensity to maximize your player’s performance on game day.
Similarly, every 2 weeks we have small changes in our focus and I have to relay that to the team. I’m also a firm believer of applying similar periodization concepts to my team, I believe in long term productivity and not trading short term success with long term failure. I don’t force my team to work overtime for weeks on end, I read my team’s response and alter my expectations correspondingly.
4. Everyone has a boss
The head coach’s boss is the team chairman. My bosses are my investors.
5. Player coach
I asked coach how he can get the team to buy into him as a young coach. He said it helps alot that he was a player and he’s known the guys for a long time.
I believe in promoting from within and it’s always more convincing to developers when you have a developer background.
6. Building your team
Professional football teams have 2 choices: Hire experienced talent or develop your own.
The biggest secret sauce for my company is my team, all our full time staff went through our internship program first. I believe in having a youth academy and training your own talent. Yes it’ll take time and sometimes you lose some players to other teams but it’s worked out for us and Barcelona.
7. Data driven
It’s not just startups, data in sports is the future and coach knows it. There’s video analysis, sport science, statistics, wearable devices and an infinite amount of new knowledge. We have to keep learning to stay competitive.
8. Knowing your players
It’s an art to learn about each of your player’s strengths and weaknesses. There are 28 players on South China from all over the world. To be a great coach, you have to learn about all of them.
9. Inspire and motivate
I really like Coach Yeung because through his practice, I see him constantly encouraging and motivating his players. I try my best to let my team know I appreciate their work and celebrate any small victories we have.
10. Results
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how much work or how much thought you put into it. All that matters is if you win or lose. It’s a professional team and the only metric that matters is W’s and L’s.
Thank you Canny for giving me such unrestricted access. Thanks for making me feel like part of the team, I’m officially a die hard fan.
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樓主: JIMMYBOY
在線雷達
發表於 2014-3-18 12:48:37
