Sept. 17, 2025
Let Them Lead: Lessons in Leadership and Optimism with John U Bacon
How do you lead a struggling team to resilience and success with heart and discipline?
This week, we welcome John U Bacon, bestselling author, speaker, and former coach of one of America’s worst high school hockey teams, for an inspiring conversation on leadership, optimism, and building winning cultures.
John shares powerful stories from his coaching journey, emphasizing:
- The critical importance of leading by example and practicing what you preach
- Why optimistic leadership grounded in values beats focusing only on results
- How building trust and giving ownership transforms teams and individual athletes
- The value of patience, resilience, and celebrating progress in long-term culture change
- Lessons from legendary coaches like Bo Schembechler and Herb Brooks
- The delicate balance of discipline and empathy in effective leadership
- Why letting your team surprise you creates breakthrough moments and success
Resources Mentioned:
- Book: Let Them Lead — johnubacon.com
- Upcoming book: The Gales of November — available October 7.
- Podcast and speaking engagements — johnubacon.com
