Top Sales Manager Blog

Jets coach Rex Ryan stood before the glaring lights of the national the media last week and admitted he was wearing a real dirty sweatshirt. Grease stains notwithstanding, the residue of a good greasy meal. But when your team is on a roll…you dont want to break any superstitions by actually washing your clothes.

Just about a year ago the Jets offered Ryan the head coaching job in New York after an illustrious 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He’s been about as unconventional an NFL head coach as you could ever imaging since then, stirring the pot by stating that he “didn’t come into the league to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings” not to mention many other colorful comments.

Unconventional most definitely, especially in the hot media glare of New York City.

And his unconventional leadership style is exactly why we like him so much.

Even though his team was eliminated by the might Indianapolis Colts this sunday, a sales manager can learn alot from him…and here’s why:

He supports his players: When the season appeared to be over, he announced the Jets were out of the playoff hunt, but weeks later, he declared they should be the Super Bowl favorite. And they came very close to getting there. He standsup for them in public…and criticizes them privately. A top sales manager could learn a few things form him here.

When quarterback Mark Sanchez was struggling mid-season after a brilliant rookie start, he would lean on Ryan dn ask him how these things could happen? After a storied career at USC, Sanchez had never dealt with this level of frustration or pain.

Ryan responded telling him, “This is what you signed up for. Its all right. Its going to get better. You’re working at it. You’re studying. You’re doing all the right things.” He was.

Then he started winning again…taking the Jets all the way to the AFC Championship.

He does not take himself too seriously: He oftentimes makes cracks about his large frame to take the attention away form them and put it on him, in a good way.

After a notorious defeat to the Jaguars in Week 13, Ryan held a team meeting and got so emotional he cried. When news reached the media, the next day Ryan brought a box of Kleenex to his next press conference.

He makes a connection with his players: It doesn’t matter if it the star rookie quarterback or the practice squad player, Ryan gets to know each player and makes a connection and a bond with them. Not matter how despaired the season got, Ryan always believed that each of his players would respond and turn things around. They did.

He has confidence in his players: He wears his emotions on his sleeve no doubt, but according to center Nick Mangold “He’s not afraid to put out what he thinks. His confidence in us, I think, is a big help to the guys in the locker room. When your coach has confidence in you, you want ot work that much harder to make sure that its not unfounded”.

He adapts a proven system and duplicates it in a  new environment: For 10 years he was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. He helped to create a defensive scheme that consistently place them among the very best defensive teams in the NFL. He brought elements of that system to New York, which paid off with a berth in the game one step from the Super Bowl.

He tells the truth: Ryan’s players believe in him because he’s up front and honest with him. And when they trust you they follow you…

“At the end of the day, you just always want coaches that tell the truth” receiver Braylon Edwards said. “I mean, as players, that’s all we ever ask, is for Coach to protect me and always tell me the truth, and he’s that and more.”

As a sales manager, take few lessons from Coach Rex Ryan. Even if yours not leading your team to the Super Bowl, you can take a few of his techniques with you and hlep you become an NFL-caliber sales manager.

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Post a comment bleow and tell me how you lead your salespeople like Rex Ryan.

Filed under: Leading by ralphburns