The Great Communicator A surprising headline to find on page one of today’s Boston Globe Sports section.
The New England Patriots’ star quarterback, Tom Brady, is a coach on the field — “tutoring, correcting, cajoling, applauding.” As Brady describes it, “You take the learning when it comes, but it’s a constant process. It happens in the meetings, happens in the walk-throughs, and happens in the games.”
The article’s analysis of Brady’s role as a communicator and coach on his team offers the following ten tips for managers in the workplace.
- Managing is a continuous process.
- Managers should have a crystal clear sense of their role.
- Managers need to listen, be open to questions from their team members.
- Managers need to tune into all possible options and anticipate the “what if’s.”
- Managers need to demonstrate a proven ability to execute.
- Managers need to have a clear understanding of their company’s “game plan,” and be able to drive that game plan forward.
- With consistent success comes greater trust by senior management to make independent decisions and improvise when necessary.
- Managers need to master the details (as Brady needs to be a “master of the minutiae that decides football games”) while still maintaining sight of the big picture.
- Managers need to be in sync with company leadership.
- Managers need to share both accountability and glory.
