'Lean On Me'

Pete Carroll is the head coach of the University of Southern California 'Trojans' football team, having held that position since 2001. In his time at USC, the Trojans have made it to multiple national championship games (winning the National Championship in 2004 and splitting the National Championship in 2003) and have consistently won the Pacific-10 Conference football title. Carroll's winning percentage (85.7%) is the highest among all active coaches with a minimum of five years at a Football Bowl Subdivision program.

Sports and business have many differences, but do share several key similarities:
•competition
•management of individuals
•planning and strategizing, both versus a group of opponents and versus single opponents.

Carroll's leadership philosophy emphasises:
•being honest about and loyal to who you are and what you’re good at
•building a winning team by bringing, and sticking with, a philosophy
•the importance of competitive spirit
•using a core philosophy to drive even the toughest decisions
•empowering players.

The current USC football team has built a culture of shared responsibility and camaraderie which is illustrated clearly in a video which has aired recently on ESPN television in the USA. Take a look and even if you are not a USC fan you will get a behind the scenes look at what makes Pete Carroll a special leader.

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/24/bill-withers-pays-special-visit-to-usc-lean-on-me-singalong-e/

'Lean On Me'