Tortorella/Laviolette: Lessons in Great Coaching

Because I am in the process of moving, I have been in a motel this past week. Last night while channel surfing I came across the HBO special “Rangers and Flyers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic,” a documentary which follows the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Fylers on their journey to the 2011 NHL Winter Classic at the National Bank Stadium.

While the entire documentary was incredible, especially the many shots of the coaches and players behind the scenes – in the locker room, on the team plane, at a New Year’s Eve Party, in a hotel strategy meeting – the most fascinating aspect of the documentary was comparing/contrasting the leadership styles of coaches John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette. Both coaches, both ranked top in the NHL, have incredible leadership styles. After watching the episode three times (it took me three times to get over my disinterest in the game of hockey and really pull some valuable lessons), here are 8 observations I can make:

1. Professional hockey is a rough sport, not for the mentally or physically weak. (This probably goes without saying.)
2. Coaching professional hockey – or any professional sport, I’m guessing – takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude, a healthy view of self, the ability to see what the team needs and pursue it no matter the cost, the right mix of strict discipline and motivational encouragement and the ability to lead of team of rivals. (Meaning, a great coach of a great team is a first among equals.)
3. Great coaching means putting the needs of the team above all else.Tortorella’s philosophy of leadership goes something like this (I’m paraphrasing): Making the team great by making the sum of the team greater than the parts.
4. Great coaching means make tough decisions, even when it means disappointing individual members of the team. In this documentary, both coaches had to make decisions to bench great players for the sake of the team. Both players (one being the highest paid team member of the Flyers) were disappointed
5. Great coaching means helping the team to rely on “the team.” In one scene, two primary players from both teams were ejected from a major game. In the immediate aftermath, one coach was seen shouting to his team, “Figure it out!” He did not step in to save the team. He had trained the team to think as “a team.”
6. Great coaching means holding the top members of the team extremely accountable through cajoling, encouragement, friendship, even embarrassment when necessary. In several scenes the coaches could be seen pointing out the mistakes of the top members of the team in front of the group, using their mistakes to encourage the team to do better. (A good leader helps his top players understand that with great talent come great responsibility, even scrutiny.)
7. Great coaching means accepting the responsibility and loneliness of the head position. In one telling scene on the team plane, while the Rangers were sleeping, playing cards and conversing with each other, Coach Tortorella was busy working in his own seat. Probably working on team plays, administrative duties and leadership issues… alone. In another scene while the Flyers were enjoying time after a tough practice, the camera shows Coach Laviolette in his office pondering over some tough decisions to make… alone. Leadership is lonely.
8. Great coaching means giving the team what they need when they need it. In a very fascinating scene during the NHL Winter Classic, both teams were in the locker room during halftime. The Flyers were winning 2-1. Both coaches had different ways to motivate their respective teams. Coach Tortorella motivated his team by encouraging them to get their heads in the game and make the necessary comeback. “Winning is in reach!” Tortorella bellows to his team members. On the other hand, Coach Laviolette worked to balance his team’s excitement with the realization that winning was not guaranteed. “You’re doing a great job, but you need to keep your heads in the game!” Both coaches kept away from the negative. In the middle of the game, the last thing the players needed was negativity. Both coaches, winning or losing, remained positive at this stage in the game.

Great documentary. Great lessons.