Twelve Game-Changing Insights from Alabama coach Nick Saban

 I was fortunate to be part of an amazing conference where Nick Saban gave a talk. This was a game changer, literally!

The Alabama Crimson Tide, under Coach Saban, have created a culture of high excellence and achievement.

Insight #1: THREE REQUIREMENTS TO WIN CONSISTENTLY

Nick Saban says there are three requirements to win consistently.

1. You must have good preparation. If you don’t spend a TON of time preparing, you won’t have a high level of success. PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION.

2. Always have a good game plan. You need to have a good game plan outlining how to “win” your project, task, or endeavour.

3. You must have the ability to adjust and adapt. You may come in with excellent preparation and have a great game plan but sometimes things don’t go as you anticipated . You MUST MUST have the ability to adjust and adapt to the unforeseen circumstances or else you will fail.

Insight #2: MINDSET IS EVERYTHING

Above all, Coach Saban indicated how vitally critical it is to have the right mindset. Mindset is the key to everything. Do you have a growth and positive mindset? 

Insight #3: 3 Keys to Successful Teams

For those in leadership roles, he also talked about three keys that lead to successful teams:

Key # 1: Discipline to do the right things the right way.

Key #2: Accountability for yourself and fostering a culture of accountability so everyone is held accountable for the results they’re trying to create.

Key #3: Team first. Always thinking of the team first.

Insight #4: Discipline

You must have the discipline to do the right thing every day. This applies to both work and personal life. If there are certain things you want to accomplish on the personal side — which could be related to family, relationships, health, working out, etc. — you must be disciplined to do the right thing, every day, to be successful. Consistency leads to results, spontaneity does not. 

What does discipline mean? There are two elements to discipline.

1. Can you make yourself do the things you know you have to do, but don’t feel like doing?

2. Can you stop yourself from doing the things you want to do, but know you shouldn’t?

These are key things to keep in mind if you want to develop your discipline. This will impact every part of your life. Can you make yourself do the things you know you have to do, but don’t want to do? Can you stop yourself from doing the things you want to do to but know you shouldn’t? The answers to these questions will predict the level of success you will experience.

Insight #5: Close the gap on perfect every day

This relates to the concept of improving and getting better every day. You’re never going to be perfect every single day, but you should strive to get closer to perfect every day. Are you going to choose to do the things you know you need to, to get the goals you want? What kind of passion do you have to achieve those things?

Insight #6: Have a Compelling Vision

You always want to focus on the vision, not the circumstances. It’s the vision that helps you get to that point, not the circumstances you might be facing. Do you have a clear, powerful and concise vision of what you want?

So ultimately, you want to keep your focus on the goal you’re trying to attain and not focus on the individual things you need to do to get there. You don’t want to expend all your energy stressing about, and focusing on, all the tasks. If you focus on all the things you must do to get there, you will get discouraged and may stop trying. But if you keep your focus on the vision and put your head down and work on those things — that’s how you get the long-term vision.

Insight #7: You have to have intensity and a sense of urgency all the time

Focus on what’s important now and don’t let up in your intensity. Always have a sense of urgency so that you are always growing and moving. Be relentless.

Insight #8 : Set a high standard of expectations

You must set a high standard for yourself as well as those that you may lead. If you are a leader, YOU must set the example of the high standard for the team to follow your lead. True leaders must be individuals others want to emulate.

Insight #9: Hold Accountable

If you are a leader, you must expect your team to follow the high standard that you have set. Hold them accountable. No exceptions.

Insight #10: Be a Servant

If you are a leader, you must help people for the benefit of the people, not for your own benefit — that’s what a true leader is. A true leader serves people. A true leader should be a blessing to people. A true leader should always have the best interests of the people in mind. A true leader must always be positive. Finally, a true leader must always have gratitude.

Insight #11: Embrace Failure

Every failing is an opportunity to grow, that’s the mindset we need to have — do not be fearful of failure. You’re going to try things, and these things may not work out. That’s okay. It’s okay to fail. The key is to use that as a springboard: learn something new and then grow. And just be relentless.

Insight #12: High Work Ethic and Perseverance

The only way to really have success in anything in life is to have tremendous work ethic and perseverance. One thing you always want to consider is — and again this relates to personal and professional- are you investing your time, or are you spending it? Investing your time in your growth is a critical thing. We must have perseverance, even if you fall short of the things we want to accomplish. The key is to have perseverance and be able to overcome adversity. Have pride in performance.