A LEADER DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LOUD - (CHUCK NOLL)

1. "Don't get so busy making a living you forget to make a life."

   Noll led a balanced life. Even during the season he was home for dinner with his family five nights a week (never later than 8 p.m.). Noll also had many interests outside of football. He was a licensed pilot, could skipper a yacht, a wine aficionado, gourmet cook, horticulture expert, audiophile and even made a guest appearance to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony.

2. Be a teacher, don't rely on emotion to deliver performance.

   At his first practice with the Steelers (who hadn't won a conference title in 35 years), Noll arrived on the practice field and heard the usual pre practice whoops and yells. Noll blew his whistle and said: "You don't win football games with noise—cut the false chatter." Noll put it this way: "I am not a motivator. I do not holler or pound on the table. We [the coaching staff] are just choosers and teachers. We try to choose self-motivators and then teach them."  His pregame speech before his Super Bowl Championship in 1974 was: "Play the way you've been coached. You're going to have a good time." His speech before 1975 Super Bowl when they won again was more of the same: "Guys, this is what we played for all year. Let's go out and play."  Appealing to the emotions of his players to deliver performance belied his sensibilities.

3. Focus on now. Don't carry around the past.

   A few days prior to the Steelers repeating as Super Bowl champs in 1975 Noll called a team meeting because he felt the team was carrying around the past; too focused on the last year and worried about defending their Super Bowl Title. He told them this story:

COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE

Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you and they're watching night and day.
Take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager to do anything you do;
And a little girl who's dreaming of the day she'll be like you.
You're the little angel's idol, you're the wisest of the wise.
In her little mind about you no suspicions ever rise.

She believes in you devoutly, holds all you say and do;
She will say and do, in your way when she's grown up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little girl who believes you're always right;
And her eyes are always opened, and she watches day and night.
You are setting an example every day in all you do;
For the little girl who's waiting to grow up to be like you.

Kimberly Sedlacek

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