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
Whether you’re leading for the first time or looking to deepen your impact, this episode offers timeless wisdom to lead with heart, courage, and clarity, building teams capable of facing any challenge.
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Let Them Lead — johnubacon.com
Upcoming book: The Gales of November — available October 7.
Podcast and speaking engagements — johnubacon.com
