Lessons from Bill Walsh

"The score takes care of itself." This, his most famous mantra, encapsulates his core philosophy: concentrate on the process and execution, and the desired results will follow. [1][2]
"Your philosophy is the single most important navigational point on your leadership compass." [3]
"I directed our focus less to the prize of victory than to the process of improving — obsessing, perhaps, about the quality of our execution and the content of our thinking; that is, our actions and attitude." [4][5]
"Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results, the process rather than the prize." [6][7]
"Have a Philosophy." Walsh believed that a well-defined philosophy guides a leader's decisions and actions. [3]
"Stay Focused on Improving, Not Winning." The primary goal should be consistent improvement, which ultimately leads to victory. [2]

"The culture precedes positive results. It doesn't get tacked on as an afterthought on your way to the victory stand." [6][8]
"Champions behave like champions before they're champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they are winners." [3][6]
"Create Your Standard of Performance." Walsh established a detailed set of expectations for every member of the organization, covering everything from on-field drills to professional conduct in the office. [2][9]
"My Standard of Performance required not only maximum mental and physical effort, sacrifice, and commitment but also attention to such seemingly incidental requirements as 'no shirttails out,' 'positive attitude,' 'promptness,' 'good sportsmanship...'" [10]
"When you know that your peers - others in the organization - demand and expect a lot out of you and you, in turn, out of them, that's when the sky's the limit." [8]
"Good talent with bad attitude equals bad talent." [6]
"Culture is Critical." A strong culture of high standards is self-reinforcing and ensures that performance remains high even when the leader is not present. [3]

"The ability to help the people around me self-actualize their goals underlines the single aspect of my abilities and the label that I value most—teacher." [4][6]
"A good leader is always learning. The great leaders start learning young and continue until their last breath." [7][11]
"Be A Leader – Twelve Habits: Be yourself. Be committed to excellence. Be positive. Be prepared. Be detail-oriented. Be organized. Be accountable. Be near-sighted and far-sighted. Be fair. Be firm. Be flexible. Believe in yourself." [12]
"Declaring, 'I am the leader!' has no value unless you also have the command skills necessary to be the leader." [10]
"For members of your team, you determine what their inner voice says. The leader, at least a good one, teaches the team how to talk to themselves." [4][5]
"Others follow you based on the quality of your actions rather than the magnitude of your declarations." [8]
"As the leader, part of the job is to be visible and willing to communicate with everyone." [7]
"You can only succeed when people are communicating, not just from the top down, but in complete interchange. Communication comes from fighting off my ego and listening." [6][7]
"Afford each person the same respect, support, and fair treatment you would expect if your roles were reversed." [7]
"Money talks. Treating people right talks louder." [4]

"When you prepare for everything, you're ready for anything." [8]
"The absolute bottom line in coaching is organization and preparing for practice." [7]
"Flying by the seat of your pants precedes crashing by the seat of your pants." [7]
"Having a well-thought-out plan ready to go in advance of a change in the weather is the key to success." [10]
"Routine perfection." Walsh drilled his players on the fundamentals relentlessly until their execution at the highest level was automatic. [13]

"Few things offer greater return on less investment than praise — offering credit to someone in your organization who has stepped up and done the job." [4][8]
"The four most powerful words are: I believe in you." [4][5]
"Nothing is more effective than sincere, accurate praise, and nothing is more lame than a cookie-cutter compliment." [7]
"If you're growing a garden, you need to pull out the weeds, but flowers will die if all you do is pick weeds. They need sunshine and water. People are the same." [4][14]
"Like water, many decent individuals will seek lower ground if left to their own inclinations. In most cases you are the one who inspires and demands they go upward rather than settle for the comfort of doing what comes easily." [7][11]
"Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering." [7]

"Do expect defeat. It's a given when the stakes are high." [7][11]
"Failure is part of success, an integral part. Everybody gets knocked down." [6]
"The competitor who won't go away, who won't stay down, has one of the most formidable competitive advantages of all." [6][14]
"I am going to stand and fight again." This was part of his five-step process for getting back in the game after a defeat. [11][14]
"To a winner, complacency and overconfidence can be destructive. To losers, desperation and despondency are just as harmful." [7]

"Mastery requires endless remastery. In fact, I don't believe there is ever true mastery. It is a process, not a destination." [4][5]
"Success doesn't care which road you take to get to its doorstep." [4]
"His goal in life was to convince us that we could be great. And he did, and we were. That's why he was such a great leader." — Joe Montana on Bill Walsh. [4]
"Be more concerned with finding the right way than in having it your way." [14]
"Strength of will - is essential to your survival and success." [6]
"If your 'why' is strong enough, you will figure out 'how'!" [7]

"Be clear in your own mind as to what you stand for. And then stand up for it." [4][5]
"Find a great mentor who believes in you, your life will change forever!" [6][7]
"Commit yourself to something you have a passion for." [6][7]
"The minute you step away from the negative people in your life you will instantly see the beauty in your horizon." [6]
"In evaluating people, I prize ego. It often translates into a fierce desire to do their best and an inner confidence that stands them in good stead when things really get rough." [6]

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