Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership

In this episode, I revisit a classic post—Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership.

⁠The blog post⁠

With Brian Kelly recently fired as LSU’s head coach, it’s worth contrasting his sideline outbursts with the calmer, teaching-oriented approach of Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald. Years ago, Kelly’s tirades at Notre Dame raised questions about what real coaching looks like—and those questions still matter today. Whether it’s football or the workplace, leaders who coach build confidence and learning; those who berate only create fear.