How LaVell Edwards Influenced His Team to be a Team of Leaders | An Interview With Paul Gustavson

Paul Gustavson studied Organizational Behavior at Brigham Young University, where he was on Coach Lavell Edwards’ first football team at the school. Today he is president of the consulting firm Organization Planning and Design. He has authored two books about team building and leadership—including one with Coach Bronco Mendenhall: Running into the Wind: 5 Strategies for Building a Successful Team, and A Team of Leaders: Empowering Every Member to Take Ownership, Demonstrate Initiative, and Deliver Results. After the passing of Coach Edwards last year, Paul wrote an article for the Deseret News, “Three Key Leadership Qualities Lavell Edwards Exhibited Early On as Head Coach That Could Benefit Any Leader.” He has also served as a bishop of a young single adult ward. Episode Highlights * 5:00 His history playing football, serving a mission, and attending/working with BYU * 8:36 How the article about Coach Edwards came about * 9:29 Interviewed Coach Edwards about things he had witnessed as a player * 10:00 Being a bishop had an enormous influence on Coach Edwards and his coaching * 12:34 He was always clear about the strategy * 13:45 He was a principle-based coach * 15:23 Coach Bronco Mendenhall was humble and willing to learn the principles of team-building * 17:00 Referred him to the article, “What is Strategy?” by Michael Porter, HBR * 19:06 Choosing “team members” inside a ward * 22:00 Why/how Paul got involved in team building in college * 23:50 Five smooth stones: strategy, processes, design, knowledge, capturing hearts and minds * 26:39 Application of these principles as a bishop * 28:26 Managing by councils: Five stages * 31:35 Having a framework helps * 33:20 Excellence comes through performance models and repeating best practices * 36:40 Steps to reach stage five in ward leadership * 37:52 How it happened with home/visiting teaching * 41:50 Shared stories of how they were blessed or blessed others as home/visiting teachers * 43:18 Ward theme: “We care for and bless one another”; D&C 82:10 * 44:30 What leaders talk about is what people do * 46:14 Where his books and research are available * 47:38 Discipleship and team leadership: engaging people to take action and become more Christlike Links: Organization Planning and Design A Team of Leaders Website Running into the Wind: 5 Strategies for Building a Successful Team A Team of Leaders: Empowering Every Member to Take Ownership, Demonstrate Initiative, and Deliver Results “Three Key Leadership Qualities Lavell Edwards Exhibited Early On as Head Coach That Could Benefit Any Leader,” Deseret News “What is Strategy?” by Michael Porter, Harvard Business Review