| There has been much written about the | | | | the players. Like a typical sports team, they |
| turnaround of the Chicago National Hockey | | | | needed to spend more money to sign quality |
| League franchise - from being almost last in | | | | players. But they also focused on building esprit de |
| attendance to winning the Stanley Cup in June of | | | | corps (a sense of loyalty and belonging) amongst |
| 2010. In 2004, ESPN had named the Blackhawks | | | | the players. By building strong relationships |
| the worst franchise in sports. Most recently, | | | | between management, players, player's families |
| Forbes highlighted the team's success and called it | | | | and fans, they created a powerful force that |
| the greatest turnaround ever in sport's history. | | | | enabled players to fully commit to the team and |
| A great deal can be learned about leadership from | | | | fans to embrace them. |
| the recent history of the Blackhawks and their | | | | In his book "Good to Great", Jim Collins talks |
| drive to become the best team in professional | | | | about "getting the right people on the bus". I think |
| hockey. For those who follow the team closely, | | | | this correctly describes the Blackhawk's personnel |
| you probably know that they have recently | | | | moves. It initially started at the management level. |
| traded and released a number of players who | | | | Rocky Wirtz hired John McDonough as president |
| made key contributions to the championship | | | | very early in his tenure. McDonough, the Chicago |
| season. Despite these trades, the leadership | | | | Cub's former president, was only hired when |
| lessons still hold true. | | | | Wirtz was convinced that he had the fortitude to |
| The team's turning point has been linked to the | | | | make equally tough decisions. |
| ascent of Rocky Wirtz to the chairman's role. But | | | | The team added former coaches Joel Quenneville |
| it actually began with the drafting of Jonathan | | | | and Scotty Bowman as senior advisors. Joel |
| Toews and Patrick Kane by Dale Tallon, the | | | | Quenneville was soon elevated to head coach. |
| former general manager, prior to Rocky Wirtz's | | | | Stan Bowman, who is the son of Scotty Bowman |
| taking over the team. These two players make | | | | eventually, took over the general manager |
| up the core nucleus on which the team has been | | | | position. These moves put experienced leaders |
| built. | | | | and coaches in place that had previous experience |
| Rocky Wirtz succeeded his father, William (Bill) | | | | in winning a Stanley Cup. |
| Wirtz, who ran the team for 41 years. Bill was a | | | | This thinking also applied to the players. They had |
| very astute businessman but had been stuck in a | | | | the raw talent in Kane & Toews, but they lacked |
| 1990's strategy of pay-per-view television and | | | | experience. They brought in veteran players like |
| keeping player salaries under tight control. The | | | | Cristobal Huet at goal & Brian Campbell at |
| financial situation was desperate at the time of Bill | | | | defense. But even after winning the Western |
| Wirtz's death in September of 2007. Rocky Wirtz | | | | Conference semi-finals in 2009, they continued to |
| was in the unenviable position of having to quickly | | | | add talent like Marian Hossa, John Madden and |
| reverse almost every one of his father's major | | | | Tomas Kopecky. |
| decisions. | | | | Let's correlate this to teambuilding. Each team |
| One of his first decisions was moving into his | | | | members was chosen for their ability to |
| grandfather's old office. Arthur Wirtz had been a | | | | contribute to the team's goals. The team included |
| major contributor to the growth of the original | | | | acquired veterans, players who moved up |
| NHL. His office was left virtually untouched since | | | | through the minor league, recent draftees and |
| his 1983 death. Bill Wirtz had refused to allow the | | | | former Stanley Cup winners. There was one |
| office to be occupied by anyone else for almost | | | | common denominator and that was the team's |
| 25 years. This move symbolized the forward | | | | goal to win the Stanley Cup. Katzenbach and |
| movement of the team and emphasized the goal | | | | Smith cited in their book "The Wisdom of Teams" |
| of returning the team to prominence. | | | | that "a common, meaningful purpose sets the |
| Forbes magazine reported that under Bill Wirtz, | | | | tone and aspiration" for team success. |
| the fans and other key stakeholders had grown | | | | When an organization gets focused on its |
| estranged from the team. The Blackhawks had | | | | strategic goals, great things can happen. There |
| alienated its players, fans and key stakeholders. | | | | were good decisions made by the team's |
| Think of the parallels to disengaged employees, | | | | chairman, president, general manager and head |
| unhappy customers and frustrated stakeholders. | | | | coach. The team played exceptionally well with |
| Over the years, various disagreements had | | | | everyone contributing to the playoff victories. |
| created a riff between management and its | | | | Jonathan Toews won the most valuable player |
| former Hall of Fame Players. This included famous | | | | award. There was outstanding goal tending, great |
| names such as Bobby Hall, Stan Mikita and Tony | | | | defense and timely offensive scoring. The |
| Esposito. In fact, Bill Wirtz was blamed for allowing | | | | Blackhawks successfully demonstrated how to |
| Bobby Hull to leave the team and join the World | | | | build a team and teamwork itself. |
| Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. | | | | But would we be writing this article if they had |
| These former star players were welcomed back | | | | not won the championship? Typically, no one sings |
| by the new Blackhawks. Each was given their | | | | the praises of the general who lost the war or |
| own recognition day and each became an | | | | the coach who lost the big game. No one usually |
| important link to the past glory of the team. More | | | | remembers the team that came in second. |
| importantly, they helped reinforced the winning | | | | There is no questioning the results. Attendance |
| culture that the new management had embraced. | | | | has grown from 522,000 (second lowest in the |
| The team also reached out to the fan base in | | | | NHL) to almost one million (highest in the NHL). |
| other ways. By switching the radio broadcasts to | | | | Season ticket holders have grown from a low of |
| mega-station WGN and broadcasting all home | | | | 3,400 to over 14,000. There are also more than |
| games on free television, they actually were able | | | | 4,000 on the waiting list. The franchise has |
| to increase attendance at the United Center. This | | | | achieved financial success after almost not being |
| was in direct conflict with Bill Wirtz's philosophy | | | | able to make the payroll in late 2007. And most |
| that broadcasting home games was a disservice | | | | importantly, they have achieved the ultimate |
| to season ticket holders. | | | | reward - the 2010 Championship of the NHL. |
| Management also changed their philosophy toward | | | | Now the question is "Can they repeat in 2011? |