The captain class : the hidden force that creates the world's greatest teams / Sam Walker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walker, Sam (Newspaper editor), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Coaching (Athletics).

Sports teams.

Leadership.

Physical Description:

xvii, 332 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Random House, [2017]

Summary:

"Walker starts with one of the most hotly debated questions in sports: What are the greatest teams ever--particularly those that sustained success over a long period of time. He devised a formula to compare the achievements of teams from leagues all over the world, and after painstakingly profiling thousands of them, produced a comprehensive, unbiased list of the 16 best. Period. At that point, Walker became obsessed with another, more complicated question: What did these teams have in common? A genius coach? A transcendent superstar? A groundbreaking system? Or was it all a matter of chemistry? A surprising pattern emerged: There was a very specific kind of leader at the center of these teams, a force that drove them to greatness, and they all shared eight specific characteristics. Who they are, who they are not, and the traits they shared will fascinate anyone who follows sports or is interested in building a team -- and winning. Told through riveting stories of some of the most compelling and pressure-soaked moments in sports history, Walker not only brings these uncommon leaders to life, he presents a counterintuitive view of leadership--one that can apply to a wide spectrum of competitive disciplines, particularly business"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I. Greatness and its origins: the birth of a freak team

Alpha lions: identifying the world's greatest teams

Captain theory: the importance of "glue guys"

Talent, money, and culture: alternative explanations

Do coaches matter?: the Vince Lombardi effect

Part II. The captains: the seven methods of elite leaders

They just keep coming: doggedness and its ancillary benefits

Intelligent fouls: playing to the edge of the rules

Carrying water: the hidden art of leading from the back

Boxing ears and wiping noses: practical communication

Calculated acts: the power of nonverbal displays

Uncomfortable truths: the courage to stand apart

The kill switch: regulating emotion

Part III. The opposite direction: leadership mistakes and misperceptions

False idols: flawed captains and why we love them

The captaincy in winter: leadership's decline, and how to revive it.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-314) and index.

ISBN:

9780812997194

0812997190

OCLC:

963912498