And with those five little words, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made an amazing admission. Sometimes during timeouts – a brief respite usually used to re-center a team and plan the next set of moves – Popovich will turn to his team, lets them know he really doesn’t have any answers, and lets them determine what they want to do moving forward.
Given that most coaches are known as “control freaks,” this news shook the sports world last week. And it should have a similar seismic effect in the world of business, and radio, too.
This isn’t about Popovich being out of gas – although it should be mentioned that he’s the longest running NBA head coach at 18 years – and more about trusting his team to work together to solve problems, regroup, and win games. It isn’t about a coach being out of answers, but realizing his group has the ability to solve its problems and figure out the puzzle of the moment.
Now part of the reason why this works for the Spurs is that Popovich is surrounded by an amazing group of players – veterans like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili who have been cast in virtually every situation and have won championships and lost big games as a unit.
In radio, we like to characterize PDs as “control freaks.” But the reality is that when you are gifted with great talent, you get more out of them when you let them do what they do well.
I think of programmers like Dave Richards, John Hager, Bill Weston and a handful of other managers I’ve worked with over the years that communicate the basics to their jocks, but then know the moments when they should stand back and let them perform.
It isn’t always pretty, and especially in PPM, there’s that fear that when DJs go off the script, meter migration can happen. But as Popovich has learned over the years, empowering and trusting your talent is at the heart of growing a winning culture.
As he notes, “I think that communication thing really helps them. It engenders a feeling that they can actually be in charge. I think competitive character people don’t want to be manipulated constantly to do what one individual wants them to do. It’s a great feeling when players get together and do things as a group.”
Veteran jocks – whether they’re athletes or radio hosts – have experienced it all. In the case of radio, ratings victories that are cause for celebrations and bonuses, and crappy books that shake you to your core, causing you to question your talent and abilities.
You have to trust your team, your lineup, and your plan. Popovich may simply walk away during some timeouts because he knows that his group is smart and prescient enough to figure it out for themselves. Of course, it starts with great talent.
The victories are even sweeter when the players work together.
That’s why they call it teamwork.
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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Great post.
“If you want to get to the next page, you’re gonna’ have to go ‘off’ the one you’re on”
Thanks for this, John.