Today the Winnipeg Jets relieved Claude Noel of his coaching duties. Claude Noel was always professional and I wish him well in his future.
While I read some of the comments and responses I was reminded again about Systems Thinking and how we are too quick to blame people for being lazy. The majority of people today seem united in the opinion that the players let the entire coaching staff down. The players were depicted as overpaid millionaires that had lost the passion for the game and were lazy. Now I don’t have any inside knowledge of the team, but this comment reminded me of the type of comments we get on projects when teammates do not meet the objectives others have set for them. The teammates are painted as being lazy, without passion and drive, and in some instances it is said they lack talent and skill.
Sound familiar?
Many types of Systems
Now the system I am talking about isn’t the hockey system the team is using for offense or defense. (although I imagine those are equally important systems) I’m not referring to the “lack of a hockey system” that several Pittsburgh Penguins players were quoted as saying the Jets lacked. I’m talking about a system that is a bit more foundational than that. (Although those systems may need improvement as well)
Culture?
Many people refer to the type of system I’m referring to as the Culture of the organization. I like to think of culture just being the set of behaviours that the organization has valued by the people and processes in that organization. If an organization has a culture of skipped meetings, it is because the people and processes there tolerate that behaviour. If an organization has a culture of gossiping and rumour-spreading, it is because the people and processes in the organization at least tolerate it.
The Winnipeg Jets currently have a culture or set of systems/practices that allow for inconsistent play and the appearance of a lack of passion.
Is that the player’s fault? Nope. They are just operating in the system they are in.
I often hear that the players are paid professional and should not need to be motivated. They should be able to motivate themselves. Well I would counter that by asking people to remember a job where passionate professionals were not rewarded. I think we will all remember we slowly adapted to that system.
Well you ask, isn’t the coach also just a member of that system and not to blame?
I’d agree partially. It is my personal opinion that people higher up in the organization should take more accountability when the system doesn’t work.
It didn’t appear that the system or the culture changed over the past two and a half years. That is why a move was made.
We will see how successful Paul Maurice is in changing the system. I hope he has read books on System Thinking.
Agile PMO 