Growing with Process
Two sports leaders: Sir Alex Ferguson (formerly Manchester United) and Nick Saban (Alabama Football coach).
Sir Alex Ferguson was hugely successful in the English Premiership. He won many championships and practically dominated the league for Manchester United during his time. He achieved that despite selling "stubborn" players, uncompromising in his process. From David Beckham to Ronaldo, Sir Ferguson did not allow any distraction.
Since Nick Saban arrived University of Alabama in 2007, he’s had different offensive coordinators (6) and defensive coordinators (3). Yet, Alabama has continued to win, returning 130-20 win record.
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Looking at these men, I can see one thing: they have a process, which is agnostic of the people working for them. For Sir Ferguson, anytime anyone is coming close to disrupt that process, the person must go. In Alabama, Saban has a process and when a new coach comes, he defines what he wants from that coach. He gives that coach a process and asks the coach to execute it. Saban takes of Process as key to Alabama success.
Interestingly in business, we need processes as leaders if we want to win. The fact is this: designing business systems based on human elements occupying the current positions will not create enduring institutions [focus on the skills required and not the specific individual so that you can do plug-n-play for the positions]. But when there is a process, agnostic of the current human element, great things happen.
While I cannot take away the fact that Manchester United and Alabama Football hired geniuses at the top, the fact remains that at different levels, we can create great results if we run a business as a system with processes, not tied to human elements. Manchester did not stop winning when the great players left. Alabama's success has made its coaching team a fertile ground for teams to recruit. Yet, nothing changed or have changed the results in ManU and Tuscaloosa.
The best way to grow is to have a process upon which a firm runs. Have one today, in your business!
