OK, I admit it – I probably use more sports analogies than the next blogger. But it’s hard not to draw parallels between the world of sports teams, managers, and athletic competition and the rough and tumble world of radio.
Amazingly, as the radio business has matured, consolidated, and rebooted, there is still much ambiguity about how to create the best company culture. Radio has evolved, but so has the rest of the media world. And today, building great mission-focused teams is table stakes in the quest to attract – and hold onto – the best and the brightest.
That’s why it’s fascinating to look at radio’s leadership through the culture lens. Cumulus chief Mary Berner is convinced she’s turned the company’s internal attitude around. David Field will be working hard to imbue his incoming CBS employees with the Entercom vibe. And other radio CEOs from both big and small companies are continually focused on growing and instilling a winning culture.
And not a moment too soon. It wasn’t that long ago in radio when rank and file employees aspired to work for certain companies. I remember interviewing any number of on-air and programming candidates, many of whom had their sights set on joining Infinity, Susquehanna, Evergreen, and other companies led by iconic corporate honchos.
In recent years, however, thanks to layoffs, cutbacks, and economic hardships, those aspirations haave became dampened by a radio industry in search of leadership. Coming off a very positive Radio Show, the industry appears poised to get its mojo back. And that positive spirit emanates from the top.
So who better to speak to this notion of company culture than great college sports coaches? Leaders like Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh, Geno Auriemma, and Pete Carroll all set a distinctive tone, especially important to talented and gifted young men and women seeking the optimal environment.
And one of the best in class is most definitely Mike Krzyzewski – better known as Coach K – head coach of Duke University’s legendary basketball program. From winning NCAA Championships to Olympic gold, Coach K “gets” culture and what it means to teams, companies, and organizations.
He recently wrote an article for Company Culture, outlining the key ingredients that go into that elixir of vibe, attitude, and spirit that separate the greats from the also-rans.
Like other iconic coaches – John Wooden, Bill Belichick, and Joe Torre all come to mind – Krzyzewski doesn’t mince words or ramble. He gets right to the point.
And in his world view of working with immensely talented athletes and entertainers, here are his five keys that can help set that winning tone:
1. It takes time
You don’t establish a culture in a hurry. It takes time, it requires standards, a true foundation, and “having a tradition.”
2. It doesn’t perpetuate itself
Coach K points out you that the process of creating a winning culture isn’t about “set it and forget it.” The culture must be thought of as a “continuum” that requires care and nurturing, rather than something you initiate and then put on auto pilot.
3. It’s not about tactics
He underscores that most teams over-focus on X’s and O’s – in radio terms, that’s clocks, music scheduling, and contests – rather than the more organic process of creating a distinct and definable culture.
4. It’s personal
Whether it’s your air staff, your sellers, or your management team, it’s paramount to get to know them, rather than seeing them as items on a spreadsheet. Everyone in the organization is motivated differently. Showing them what success looks like and how they can contribute to the great goal is a key to an inclusive environment.
5. Listen to them
Coach K believes that different voices will reinforce the same central messages throughout a station or a company. In sports, new players join the team each year – not dissimilar to the turnover in radio. Having that culture, that history, and that tradition makes it easy for newcomers to quickly get with the program and learn the culture.
Earlier this year, we shared the wisdom of aforemenitoned UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden. Like Krzyzewski, you never saw him frantically running up and down the sideline or yelling during time-outs. Because his players believed in and exuded the culture, the in-game decisions they made became easier because they truly understood the organization’s goals and what it stood for.
You can learn a lot from watching the activity and vibe on the bench, the sidelines, or in the dugout. The great coaches – like the top chief executives, market managers, programmers, and sales leaders – create that culture and let it flow through the organization.
A company culture is a delicate organism. Grow it and coach it the right way and you can build a world class organization built to last.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Hmmm. I wonder if part of the Coach’s “culture” involves lying till you get caught by audio and then becoming clean. Or railing against a practice, that is, until you do it and it helps you win a championship. Or overlooking serial cheaters in your program because they can help you win.
I understand and applaud your column Fred but it could have been accomplished by putting the attention on a true man of class, John Wooden, rather than a hypocrite.
“Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.” – John Wooden
I was confident I’d hear from Coach K haters, so you didn’t let me down. Every one of these guys is flawed, and I’m not going to defend this guy. But as you note, there are key aspects to his operating philosophy that are worthy of consideration. As for Wooden, we blogged about him earlier this summer. I linked it to today’s post and am leaving it for you here. Thanks for the comment.
Very few people bear up under close scrutiny. John Wooden does. Thanks for linking to it.
My pleasure.
I’m with you on this Fred if it’s all true-that radio will get its mojo back. There are still dozens of investors, managers, PDs and OMs more concerned with keeping the bosses happy than the employees. I think I’ve finally found one of those GOOD companies who seem to care about everyone from bottom to top..and we can make this whole thing work.
Thanks for the comment, Dave, and glad it’s working for you. Radio companies need to become aspirational workplaces where people want to spend their careers and do their best work. It’s a more competitive work environment than ever before – all the more reason why broadcasters need to assess and address their “culture issues.”