The Top 10 Leadership lessons from the Mighty Ducks that all of us 1986-born tech operators can agree with
Not sure if you heard, but Emelio is BACK baby. Yes, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers trailer has been released for an upcoming Disney+ launch in 2021. To say I’m excited is perhaps the understatement of the year… although… it’s been one hell of a crazy year.
And what better way to reflect on leadership principles than to speak about some of the greatest sports teams in history:
The ‘86 Celtics.
The ‘04 Sox.
The ‘07 Pats.
And the ‘92 and ‘94 Mighty Ducks.
Top 10 Leadership lessons from the Mighty Ducks
While D1 got a 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and D2 received a 20% (I know… absurd), the films will live in the infamy of any 30-40 year old in 2021 as one of the greatest childhood films of all time. The Sandlot’s slice of Americana may take the top spot, but the ducks delivered in a serious way. And I believe while Benny The Fucking Jet and that dweeb with the long brim hat may be the most memorable duo from childhood… Charlie, the bash brothers, Julie the Kat, and Goldberg may not be too far behind.
And, when it comes to all-time greatest coaches in the history of the sport, whether fictional or real, I must say that Gordon Bombay remains the numero uno in the coaching Hall of Fame. As much as I am a Red Auerbach and Belichick fan, neither of them holds a candle to Captain Blood himself. He was able to assemble a team who literally defined a generation of kids in America for years. A cast of characters so legendary, that we all continue to google “where are they now” some 25 years later.
Before all of the blog posts, you read in your 20s about tech, culture, leadership, and every other buzzword related to personal and professional progress… there existed the Mighty Ducks. And so, in honor of one of the greatest teams of all time, I think we owe it to ourselves to assess the lessons learned from this historic team.
Focus on your strengths for the power of the team. From the original crew of Charlie Conway, Fulton, Goldberg, Averman, Jesse Hallllll (the kid was a playa), Guy Germaine, Connie, and Karp. To the newbies... Louis Mendoza from Miami: the speed skater who couldn't stop on skates. Julie the Cat Gaffney from Bangor, Maine: the goalie with cat-like reflexes. Dwayne Robinson from Austin: the puck handler who was all smiles. Ken Wu: the figure skater. Classy. Stylish. Portland: the enforcer and second half to the Bash Brothers. Gordon Bombay emphasized individual strengths upon the merger of both teams, old and new. Everyone had their role to play. And they played it. Understand your role and where you fit in. If you don’t have a role, get one, or dip.
Every team needs a Charlie… a captain the people turn to for truth: Every team needs a captain. A woman/man/whoever, in the trenches who inspires and leads the team to execute excellence. Chucky boy was that man. Who's that person(s) in your own company? If you can’t come up with a name… BE. THAT. NAME.
Unleash Bash Brothers & Bash Sisters to drive urgency and change. Every company has a bash brothers/sisters. People who vocalize their team's strengths to the world, both verbally and physically, are incredibly valuable. #unleashthebeast. Let them speak the gospel of truth to the world. Let them bash down walls. Uncage them. While uncomfortable, they will shake the org in a way that drives urgency and change.
Secret weapons to your team exist outside of the office. Finding your Russ Tyler and knuckle puck happens outside your four walls. Go back to your routes when you need them most. Look outside the office to find your knuckle puck. And when you find it, use it to your advantage.
Inspire within your team the desire to WIN WIN WIN. Hire people who literally say the words "I want to win" or "I hate losing." Find people who will do anything to beat team Iceland in the finals. When I interview people, I like to ask them this question: “Do you like to win?” You’ll learn a lot from the answer…
Set an expectation for players to step up to the plate in times of trouble. Injuries happen (Banks injures his wrist). Sometimes your strongest players cannot be with you (Portman gets rejected). A strong culture emphasizes picking up the slack.
You can learn a lot from older, wiser people. In the same way, Gordon Bombay took advice from old pops Hans and Jan, you must encourage your teammates to find mentors and people they can learn from, be inspired by, and change with. Culture strengthens as a result of strong mentors.
#WorkEthic. These kids hustled. Aint nobody denying that.
Gloves. Stick. Shirt. Even your quietest team members have a voice. Teach them to fight for themselves and for the team. You're only as strong as your weakest player. And when it comes to standing up for what you believe in, just remember. GLOVES. STICK. SHIRT!
Ducks fly together. ‘Nough. Said.
If you were to look me in the eyes and say that The Mighty Ducks did not define their generation, they'd be lying to you. The movie rocked my and my friend's childhoods, in the best of ways, and was one of the first underpinnings of what it meant to be a good teammate. No blog post out there today about leadership will resonate 1/10th as much as the Mighty Ducks did, whether you want to admit it or not. So pay respect to the team that showed you the true meaning of what it meant to be a great teammate.
#RESPECT
