Continuing our Running a Championship System series, Packers coach Matt LaFleur joined SGG to discuss leadership in the Packers organization and beyond.

Running a Championship System (RCS) continues. Matt LaFleur has served as head coach of the Packers since 2019. Known as a top innovator, Coach LaFleur learned about leadership from his parents and many other top coaches over the years. In this episode of SGG, we discussed:

1. Core values that he learned from his parents. Integrity. Honesty.

2. Mike Shanahan: “I’ll never lie to you.”

3. The best leaders are true to themselves.

4. Surrounding yourself with great people. Priority in putting a staff together: “Give me the person first and the coach second…In our work there’s so much adversity, It’s so competitive. It’s a roller coaster. You’ve got to have the right kind of people to get through the tough times…Because it’s coming…It all starts with the people.”

5. “Coaching trees” as being more about the process than the individuals themselves.

6. Learning from other coaches.

7. Taking time in choosing a staff, including people who are different and complementary.

8. On leadership and developing ideas: “Talking to too many people can cloud your ideas… If you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing.”

9. “In our messaging to our team, we are very, very basic. But I think if you ask our guys what we’re all about, they’ll be able to tell you.”

10. “It’s a consistent message that we feed to the guys…The hard part for me, heading into year three, is that these guys have heard it so many times…It’s like, how do you give the same message but present it in a different way?”

11. Finding ways to empower other people as a leader. “You’ve got to allow people to grow and showcase what they can bring to the table.”

12. The importance of being present as head coach. “Try to be as visible and accessible to all of your players and staff as possible.”

13. Role of coach in supporting player leadership: “There is nothing more powerful than a player-led team.”

14. Strategically tapping into veteran player leadership. “It is powerful when they are delivering the message.”

15. Hiring detailed position coaches “so that all the little things are getting the same attention.”

16. The importance of physical space in fostering trust, comradery, and strong relationships.

17. The challenge of making long-term schedules.