F*&king Management Lessons from Rex Ryan, Head Coach of The New York Jets

Rex Ryan has been earning a good deal of heat due to his vocabulary during the taping of HBO's series "Hard Knocks," which documents the New York Jets pre-season training camp. The language won’t surprise anyone who has spent time around football coaches or training camps; however, many members of the football community have called Ryan's Head Coach position into question because of his use of profanity. While his method of expression might not be worthy of emulation, a recent profile in the New York Times Magazine indicates that this football lifer and graduate of the vaunted Southwest Oklahoma University can teach executives some valuable points about leadership.

Points of note derived from the article:

1. "How great is this!" Ryan is known as the most enthusiastic member of the coaching staff.  He offers constant encouragement and positivity.  His belief in the team's ability to achieve is infectious.
2. "We call him Marino."  Ryan is intimately involved in the day-to-day existence of his reports.  He doesn't sit behind a desk and scheme; rather, he walks among his players and throws passes during drills.  He knows what's going on with the team, because he's constantly exposed to the team.
3. "We expect to win the damn Super Bowl."  Ryan sets huge, visceral goals that everyone can get behind.  The team has a mission that everyone can articulate, and everyone, from the grounds crew to the Quarterback knows how their task influences the achievement of the collective goal.
4. "I'll always tell you."  Ryan is willing to have the difficult conversations.  He doesn't believe in personal attacks - unless you're an opponent; rather, he believes in telling people what he expects of them and how they measure up to those expectations.
5. "Rex loves to isolate particular players so just for a moment they’re a star."  Ryan seeks to find the unique talents offered by each of his players, and surprising ways to feature and exploit those unique talents.  Each player feels that Ryan will always place them in the best situation to ensure personal success.
6. “Guy worked hard, got thrown around, but he showed up every day, and Rex played him."  This relates to a story from Ryan's days coaching at the University of Oklahoma.  He respected a former equipment manager who turned into a practice squad player.  Playing that kid rewarded behavior that Ryan wanted to see in the scholarship athletes - commitment, relentless effort, and courage.  It set the example that on his team there are rewards for exhibition of these traits, even for the equipment manager.