On the field, Parcells has the dulcet tones of a foghorn and the patience of a hungry shark. It's what he does off the field that he explains in this three-page article in the Harvard Business Review's Different Voices series.
"The people in your company have little loyalty; some even want to fail. Your star performers expect constant pampering. Your stockholders are impatient, demanding quick results. And the media scrutinize and second-guess your every move.
I can relate."
Parcells has proven that he can turn around losing teams and he claims that it all comes down to some simple rules: Make it clear that you're in charge; confrontation is healthy; set small goals and hit them. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But it's the exact opposite of what most team leaders do and Parcells' explanation of why his rules work is worth the price of a textbook.