I’ve trained 100s of PMs. The 50% who are below average share one trait: They don’t lead well.
Sean McVay, the winningest active NFL coach, is a must-know example about leadership for PMs. Here are 10 lessons from his leadership style to focus on:
1. Lead by example
As Sean says, leadership, team culture, strategy (scheme), and execution all follow from a leader’s personal character “People do what you do, not what you say.”
2. Set the standard high
McVay arrives at the team facility by 4:30 AM & stays long after everyone else has departed. This sets the standard for excellence high in and around the team. While I don’t recommend long hours, I do recommend being the role model for high standards.
3. Love your work
McVay has insane energy and enthusiasm for his work. When he was first promoted to a positional coach in 2010, players recall the meetings getting twice as long, “and McVay still pumped up with energy.” Enthusiasm is infectious.
4. Lead via principles
Sean prints on t-shirts, writes on walls, and repeats often his “McVay-isms”:
⬛ The standard is the standard.
⬛ Situational masters.
⬛ We not me.
⬛ One rule — be on time.
Repetition is the path to adoption.
5. Focus on the right level
Everyone wants to achieve competitive greatness. But that’s the top of the pyramid.
- First, you need Character, Connected, Consistency, & Communication
- Then you need process, we not me, & standards
- Then poise & confidence
Focus on the team’s level.
6. Embrace the suck
Like an athlete, as a PM, you have to go through pain to get the payoff. There are going to be endless meetings and requests from stakeholders. Take them as opportunities to push forward your vision.
7. Show your team you care, and they’ll give you everything you have
McVay goes above and beyond to care about his players, and PMs should do the same. Take notes on the life situation of engineers and designers. Use them to follow up. They’ll give you everything they have.
8. To coach, be coachable
“Once you stop learning, you’re going to stop growing,” McVay says. To convince his players to listen to his advice, he listens to theirs. As PMs, we should engage in regular 1:1s and continuous feedback with all our colleagues.
9. Poise + confidence
McVay breaks down performance on game day into two key components:
⬛ Poise: Not bending to the competition
⬛ Confidence: Believing in the process and each other
PMs also cannot bend to negativity at work. They have to believe in the great PM process.
10. Urgent enjoyment
As you’re going through the day-to-day grind, McVay’s guide for the moment is also two components:
⬛ Urgent: who knows what tomorrow holds
⬛ Enjoyment: for the love of the process
As a PM, you probably dreamt of this job. Take the stress graciously.
There’s so much more to McVay. Twitter is one place to learn more. For instance, Dave Kline’s (@dklineii) thread has great insights:
There are also several great pieces on the internet. Two I would highlight are:
If you want more context on McVay’s 10 lessons, I recommend these pieces.
Addressing the Skeptics
Now, for the skeptics. I hear you: “should PMs care about an NFL coach?” Like PMs, a coach has to lead via influence. Many of the players on McVay’s teams are more highly paid than he is. So, in the end, he has to bring them along towards his way.
And I’ve heard the other criticism too. “But isn’t Sean McVay just a Football savant?” The sentiment that McVay is a genius has been echoed by many people.
But beyond having extraordinary insight about his field, McVay’s system has many replicable aspects PMs can adapt:
- Lead by example
- Set the standard high
- Love your work
- Lead via principles
- Build a strong foundation
- Embrace the suck
- Show your team you care, and they’ll give you everything you have
- To coach, be coachable
- Poise + confidence
- Urgent enjoyment
