In the world of sports and business, success hinges not just on individual talent, but on the effectiveness of team dynamics. In this month’s blog, I share valuable insights from Brian Harrison, Head Baseball Coach at Baldwin Wallace University (BW) – a good friend of mine who has earned a championship-winning track record.
Brian boasts an impressive coaching career, including the 2019 and 2023 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Coach of the Year. With 13 seasons under his belt, Brian has guided the BW Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Division III National Tournament six times, including a historic College World Series appearance in 2014.
Recently, I spoke with Coach Harrison about the practical principles that have fueled his success and hold relevance for achieving excellence in any team-oriented endeavor. I was so inspired by our conversation that I’ve translated it into micro-leadership tips, offering you my favorite nuggets of “Coach Harrison” wisdom.
Building Trust Within a Team
Coach Harrison believes that building a team starts with trust. Players need to trust his competence (as a coach) and know that he cares about them not just as athletes, but as people. This approach ensures that trust is the foundation of their team culture, and fosters a sense of belonging and commitment among the players, reinforcing the team’s unity and purpose.
Coach Harrison intentionally demonstrates trust among his coaching staff because the culture relies heavily on assistant coaches and “culture shapers.” For Coach Harrison, success is a collective effort that hinges on building a culture of trust.
Identifying and Developing Leadership
The most significant quality Coach Harrision looks for when recruiting is individuals who genuinely care about their teammates. He also values players who take personal ownership and lead by example. Coach Harrison makes an effort to align influential players with his team’s objectives and empowers these players by granting them more ownership and involving them in decision-making. He recognizes the contributions of his influential players, encourages them to take on more responsibilities and challenges them to inspire their teammates.
Coach Harrison believes that when his best players are also the hardest workers, it sets a standard for the entire team. Working hard becomes a natural part of the culture. This is what he expects from his best leaders — to set an example. Coach Harrision doesn’t rely on formal meetings or training sessions for his leaders. Instead, leadership is nurtured through daily interactions.
Embracing Diversity
Coach Harrison learned how to embrace diversity from a mentor, who taught him that diversity is all about basic human needs. As a leader, Coach Harrison aims to provide his players with a sense of meaning, belonging and value. At the end of day, Coach Harrison explained that his players want to know if he cares about them, if he acknowledges their successes and if he will help them improve. Players also want to understand if they contribute to the greater good because every person has a purpose.
Handling High-Pressure Situations
In high-pressure situations, Coach Harrison reflects on what went right, what went wrong and where the team can improve. Because most high-pressure situations occur during games, Coach Harrison relies on his past experiences and intuition. Coach Harrison also leans on his assistant coaches and the team leaders because he values input. As such, Coach Harrison encourages everyone on the team to take ownership and share their thoughts and ideas.
Fostering Continuous Learning and Development
Through experience, Coach Harrison has learned that the best way for a team to improve is when the leaders are committed to their own growth and development. When coaches are coached, it has a more significant impact than only coaching each individual player. It’s important that players see their coaching staff, including the head coach, being open-minded and committed to growth because it becomes the standard for the rest of the team.
Communication in Aligning Teams with Organizational Goals
At the heart of Coach Harrison’s success is effective communication – and this begins with the team’s shared purpose. Together, Coach Harrison works with his team to define ‘what they are all about,’ which sets the tone. As a team, they prioritize shared values and work toward a clear and consistent message. Coach Harrison says this approach allows players to internalize and live their purpose authentically, without feeling forced to recite scripted words. And when everything ties back to shared purpose and goals, success falls into place.
Coach Harrison also emphasizes teachable moments and considers this a cornerstone of his leadership strategy. He proactively rewards desired behaviors rather than reacting to issues. Therefore, communication, to Coach Harrison, is not just a tool but a strategic emphasis on values and actions, ensuring purpose resonates deeply with everyone who is part of the team.
Final Thoughts
As we conclude our exploration of micro-leadership tips inspired by my conversation with Coach Brian Harrison, remember that success in both sports and business thrives on teamwork and dynamic collaboration. Coach Harrison’s insights on trust, leadership, diversity, resilience, continuous learning and communication offer practical guidance for your team’s journey to excellence. For personalized strategies to unlock your team’s full potential, Noble Hill Consulting is here to help. Please reach out if we can support the development of your people and culture.
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