If you haven’t read part 1, click the link below for background on where we are headed.
A Textbook “Infinite Organization”
The Steel(from part 1) are playing an infinite game from a 1 team organization perspective. But the beauty of this organization is they have a massive umbrella of 5 teams covering 2 sports.
The organization is Red Bull.
Red Bull covers all bases of building a player development machine. They have an academy from u14 all the way through the professional team in Salzburg, Austria for both soccer and hockey. They also have:
MLS Soccer in New York
Bundesliga Soccer in Leipzig
DEL Hockey in Munich
This umbrella of teams is playing the infinite game. They work collaboratively, they talk to each other, and even the professional teams “work together.” The soccer example will outline a coach development system. The hockey teams will outline player development in part 3.
Red Bull Soccer- One Coach’s Journey Through the Machine
This is Jesse Marsch.
This is where he has coached.
Notice anything?
Since 2015, he has been with Red Bull’s organization.
Why?
First, they knew of him. They saw how he coached, what his principles of play were, and what he believed in.
Then, they got him.
Then, they didn’t let him go by promoting him through the ranks. If you’re familiar with professional hockey. Think of Red Bull as the ownership of an NHL organization.
He started in New York. Which would be Red Bull’s ECHL affiliate. Think AA baseball level.
He progressed to Salzburg. The team’s AHL affiliate.
This summer he was prompted to Leipzig in the German Bundesliga. The NHL club.
When you’re an infinite organization you identify talent early and you hold onto them. Good investors sniff out good companies before they are good companies. Great organizations identify coaches early and hold them too. Said another way by our colleague, T.J. Manastersky, “they find the talent that whispers.”
Why does this matter?
The message Red Bull is sending every day to Coach Marsch is simple and clear:
We want you here long term
When you’re ready, we want to give you more difficult challenges by promoting you
This develops you as a coach
We value your development
We value “you”
What do coaches fear? Being fired at the drop of a hat... and left with nothing.
How do you alleviate this fear and send “belonging signals” instead?
Do what Red Bull does.
Find great people and develop them for the organization is chess.
Find great people and drop them when they lose 4 games in a row is checkers.
If the coach is actually good for your infinite game, you won’t want to fire him after a “losing skid.”
Anti-Goal: Don’t make your coach “more stupid” by creating fear.
Instead of fear of losing his job, he’ll be able to have deep thoughts, insights, and breakthroughs that will help the club.
Allow him to “belong.” Develop the coach through the system as well.
To go on and read Part 3… Click Here