Great Michigan Minds Think Alike: 4 Things We Can Learn From Jim Harbaugh [Part 1]

Ken Lear, entrepreneur based in Farmington Hills, sheds light on lessons from the University of Michigan’s coach.

There are undeniable parallels between sports and business. Whether you are trying to defeat your rival in a Saturday afternoon showdown or execute a pivotal sales strategy, victory requires effective recruiting, meticulous training, and adapting to your opponent’s game plan. Though Ken Lear and Jim Harbaugh are different in their vocations, they share similar tactics when it comes to competing successfully.

Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of the highly respected University of Michigan football team and he’s famous for his ferocity, competitiveness, and unwavering confidence. From being a quarterback at the University of Michigan, to his 14-year career as an NFL quarterback, to coaching at both the NFL and collegiate level, to say that Harbaugh knows the game inside and out is an understatement.

The attitudes and strategies of successful coaches in sports are highly transferrable to the business world, which is why it is important to retain these 4 lessons from Jim Harbaugh.

1. Master the Game

Harbaugh is a coach who knows everything about football. In a recent interview with WEEI, Bill Belichick, who’s won 5 Super Bowls as the head coach of the New England Patriots, lauded Harbaugh’s impressive knowledge of the game. He praised the Michigan coach for knowing everything that goes into every single position—from nose guard to the punting squad.

As Ken Lear will tell you, this can be perfectly applied to business as well. Knowing the roles of your team and the nuances of your company inside and out is what will separate you from the pack. The ability to make crucial decisions based on this knowledge is what will make you a juggernaut.

2. Build Meaningful Relationships

It’s no secret that Harbaugh’s team loves having him as a coach. In order for a team to win or for a company to thrive, there needs to be a bond between coaches and team members. Jim Harbaugh, much like Ken Lear, is a strong proponent of team-bonding activities, and designs the team’s camp and practice schedules around them. The team struggles together, shares time together, and strives together.

An effective business environment should be the same. Employees who work alongside each other everyday should have a bond—not only with their leaders—but with each other as well. The struggle of practice and diligence should be evened out with team-building exercises and enjoyable activities to ensure there is a strong feeling of belonging and teamwork within a business.

Click here to read #3 and keep reading this blog series from Ken Lear!