Zamboni Zen: Drive Success On the Ice and In the Boardroom

TL;DR (too long, didn’t read)

• Modern NHL Coaches are shifting the paradigm from fear to trust

• Rick Tocchet’s approach of trust and communication are working

• Curiosity fuels great cultures

• Accountability delivers the goods

I love watching hockey this time of year. The intermission panel discussions are as good as the game.

The panel with Ron, Kelly, Kevin, and Elliot is my favourite.

Ron is a throwback to "Ron and Don", Kelly and Kevin bring a player's perspective from different eras, and Elliot is, well, Elliot.

The chemistry is excellent. Ron is the setup man, Kevin and Elliot love to pick on each other, and Kelly is authentic and detail-oriented.

The game within the game during the playoffs offers intriguing content for the panel to discuss. There was a short, subtle conversation about the "modern coach" in round one between the Canucks and the Predators.

Both coaches from the series, Rick Tocchet and Andrew Brunette, along with Rick Bowness of the Jets, have been nominated for the Jack Adams. The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."

Kelly commented on how coaching in the NHL had changed. 

He stated that in the past, coaches were unapproachable. There was a wall between the players and the coach to reinforce the hierarchy. Coaches led through fear, threats and intimidation. It was not unusual for outbursts that included yelling, throwing things and punishments like bag skates (essentially skating till the coach decides you have had enough). 

The "modern" coach is very different. 

Kelly used Rick Tocchet's relationship with JT Miller as an example. Tocchet's approach to their relationship is one of reciprocation and respect. 

Tocchet sees his job as figuring out how to get the most out of JT by understanding what drives him and being curious about what he sees on the ice. In return, JT is open and honest with his feedback, which makes Tocchet a better-informed coach.

The coach and player improve through curiosity and mutual respect, forming a deep trust-based relationship. 

Tocchet takes the same approach with the rest of the team's players, but it does not stop there. Tocchet is in constant communication with his coaches behind the bench. Mike Yeo, Adam Foote, and Tocchet continuously talk during the game. 

Though sometimes animated, they are always calm and respectful with each other, the team and the on-ice officials....most of the time.

When Canuck players are interviewed, they talk about the same thing, their structure and their discipline is what leads to their success. 

From an external observer, it seems that Tocchet's approach has the team aligned and bought into a system that starts with solid, respectful relationships that translate into a hockey system that produces on-ice results, arguably greater than expected. 

What a great recipe for business success.

How can business leaders translate the approach to their daily work?

• Build Relationships between Individuals and Teams - focus on trust, use Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions as an amuse bouche.

• Communicate Clearly and Frequently about everything - strategy, values, expectations, and priorities. If you have said it too many times, say it five more.

• Commit to Learning—be open and curious. Don't get frustrated that things aren't working; get curious about why. Check out the Conscious Leadership model.

• Empower and Develop Those Around You. The world will never move as slowly as it is moving right now. Prepare people for the future; your ability to scale depends on it.

• Create a Culture of Accountability - as Jocko Willink of Extreme Ownership says - "if poor performance is accepted, then that is the new standard." - teams only win when you can rely on each other to deliver

Just as Tocchet's coaching philosophy translates into on-ice results, these principles are a recipe for business success, driving alignment, engagement, and organizational performance.