Fall is here! As a huge Michigan State fan and season ticket holder, my Saturdays revolve around football and the Spartans.
It’s no secret that there hasn’t been much to celebrate the last two seasons. I so badly want to get back to the moments of pure euphoria. I’ll never forget the “Little Giants” win against Notre Dame in 2010, or the Hail Mary touchdown pass to beat Wisconsin in 2011.
Anyone recall that 2014 defense and Kyler Elsworth stopping Stanford on 4th down to win the Rose Bowl? Ah yes, maybe the best moment of all, “Whoa, he has trouble with the snap! And the ball is free! It’s picked up by Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson, and he scores! On the last play of the game—unbelievable!”
These memories for me have one thing in common. The camera shooting over to head coach, Mark Dantonio. He would barely crack a smile, but he was swarmed and loved by the team he led.
I have always admired his quiet, humble approach to leadership. While we fans never got to see the thousands of moments and lessons off the field, we did see the results of how he built the players and program over 12 years. Here are four key leadership principles I’ve learned from two of MSU’s football coaches – old and new.
Start with Clear Purpose & Identity
As a new leader who is still learning every day, I took notice of how Coach Dantonio started with a strong foundation. He laid down a clear purpose and identity for his team. As the winningest coach in Michigan State football, Dantonio’s purpose included five key objectives.
“There were five things that I always talked about and tried to maintain and build: personal relationships, the importance of an education, a solid work ethic, being a light in the community and winning. Winning comes in many, many forms. We didn’t just win on the field. I thought we won with our player development, our people, and our staff.”
The identity of Michigan State football has always been the hard-working, blue-collar underdog. The most successful MSU teams were full of in-state recruits who were overlooked but open to working hard and developing their skills on and off the field. (This is the 3-star linebacker that’s as tough as nails in contrast to the 5-star quarterback with the NIL deal fresh out of high school.)
Okay, back to reality. It’s 2024, and there’s been some tough times as a Michigan State fan. Yet, I’m the most excited I’ve ever been about this season, wins and losses aside. Why is that? His name is Jonathan Smith.
It’s only been 10 months since head coach Jonathan Smith has taken the helm in East Lansing, but I’ve already seen exceptional leadership at play that gives me Mark Dantonio vibes. Let’s look at three additional traits of great leaders.
Create a Process
From day one, Coach Smith has communicated a process of what it will take to get the program turned around. He evaluated their current state and swiftly changed based on prior lessons learned. The biggest piece was rebuilding relationships in-state with high school coaches. This was done through on-site visits, physically shaking hands, and timely follow through.
As leaders, what do our processes look like with our teams? How often are we changing just for the sake of change? Do we have enough data and longevity to fully trust our processes? One thing I love about our Talent Solutions process is that we know IT WORKS! It required tweaking over the years, sure, but getting it dialed in has paid dividends for our customers and team members. It requires us to focus on the customer and candidate experience, building trusting relationships, and ultimately delivering superior results.
Develop a Strong Culture
According to Jonathan Smith, “Low Ego, High Output” will be the mantra of the culture he’s developing with his players. He will recruit and add staff and players to the program who are humble, team-oriented, and focused on winning together as a unit. That means, he will miss out on some talented individuals. He is more focused on the sum of all the players who are aligned to form a strong team.
This philosophy aligns with DISHER Talent Solutions especially as we continue to grow our team. We are selective. That means hiring can take longer than normal. However, we are focused on making sure we have team players that are focused on serving the customer, providing an exceptional candidate experience, and achieving more in this industry than just filling a requisition. The best recruiter in the world could come in for an interview, but if they don’t align with our mission, values, and team culture—we need to keep looking.
Give Back to Your Community
I’ve learned through a recent leadership class that any business has five types of stakeholders: customers, investors, employees, suppliers, and communities. Communities are often overlooked. However, the more I benchmark successful companies, I see how they value giving back to the communities they serve. This can be financially or through various stewardship efforts. Simply having brick and mortar in a certain city doesn’t mean you’re invested in its community. It’s about getting involved, showing support, and making a positive difference in the communities we serve.
Coach Smith has continuously talked about the community. He understands the importance of being visible, but also getting involved in a more tangible way with his staff and players. Before taking the job, Coach Smith made sure that the communities of East Lansing and surrounding areas would be a fit for him, his staff, and their families. Another true testament of his leadership style to ensure his employees are cared for and set up for success.
As I look forward to Jonathan Smith leading the MSU team out of the tunnel for hopefully years to come, not only do I see similarities to Coach Dantonio, but I see parallel leadership traits from great business leaders throughout our West Michigan community. As DISHER Talent Solutions continues to grow and as I continue to evolve as a leader, I’m hoping the same for MSU football. Excited for more seasons of leadership learning and development and more wins inside Spartan Stadium. GO GREEN!
