Let Them Lead

Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team

John U. Bacon

• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN:
  9780358540212
• Print ISBN:
  9780358533269
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies

The New York Times–bestselling sportswriter helps a high school hockey team go from losers to legends in this inspiring memoir and leadership guide.
 
When John U. Bacon played for the Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats, he never scored a goal. Yet somehow, years later he found himself leading his alma mater's downtrodden program. How bad? The team hadn't won a game in over a year, making them the nation's worst squad—a fact they celebrated.
With almost everyone expecting more failure, Bacon made it special to play for Huron by making it  hard, which inspired the players to excel. Then he defied conventional wisdom again by putting the  players in charge of team discipline, goal-setting, and even decision-making—and it worked. In just three seasons the River Rats bypassed ninety-five-percent of the nation's teams.
 
A true story filled with unforgettable characters, stories, and lessons that apply to organizations everywhere,  Let Them Lead includes the leader's mistakes and the reactions of the players, who have since achieved great success as leaders themselves.  Let Them Lead is a fast-paced, feel-good book that leaders of all kinds can embrace to motivate their teams to work harder, work together, and take responsibility for their own success.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Author’s Note
• Introduction
• First Year: Changing the Culture
• When You’re on the Floor, You Can’t Fall out of Bed
• Be Patient with Results, Not Behavior
• Learning How to Count
• Make Sure You’re the Dumbest Guy in the Room
• Reduce Your Rules, but Make Them Stick
• Second Year: Building Trust
• Let Them Surprise You
• You Can’t Motivate People You Don’t Know
• I Work Hard for You, You Work Hard for Me
• Listen to Their Problems Now—or You’ll Get More Later
• Third Year: Giving Control
• Make Peer Pressure Work for You
• The More Power You Give, the More Power You Get
• All Credit Goes to Your People—Not You
• Epilogue: Coach Lapper
• Afterword
• Acknowledgments
• Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats Ice Hockey Team: Players and Coaches, 2000–2004
• Index
• About the Author
• Connect on Social Media